United Way organizations across New Mexico are coming together to shine a brighter light on an often overlooked, but critically important, segment of our population: ALICE households. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and refers to families who work hard, earn above the federal poverty level, but still struggle to afford basic needs such as housing, childcare, food, health care, and transportation.
With the launch of the statewide ALICE initiative, United Way aims to bring data, awareness, and collaboration to one of the most urgent challenges facing New Mexico communities: the growing number of families who are working, contributing, and doing everything “right,” but still living one unexpected bill away from crisis.
New Mexico now joins more than 35 states participating in this national effort to better understand and uplift families who are financially vulnerable yet do not qualify for many public benefits. The ALICE report which was released at an event featuring United Way CEOs from across New Mexico, provides detailed, county-level data on the cost of living and the real financial thresholds families face. This data helps nonprofits, policymakers, businesses, and community leaders make better decisions and direct resources where they can have the greatest impact.
For Lea County and other New Mexico communities, the ALICE report confirms what many service providers already see every day: far more families are struggling than traditional poverty measures suggest. Rising costs, limited childcare availability, housing shortages, and workforce barriers continue to make economic stability harder to achieve for many working families. In Lea County, 48% of households are living below the ALICE level.
Lea County United Way CEO Becca Titus emphasized the importance of this initiative for local planning and collaboration. “The ALICE report gives us a clearer picture of what families in our community are facing every day. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and essential workers – people who keep our community running. Understanding their challenges helps us work together on real, lasting solutions.”
ALICE gives communities a platform to elevate the voices and experiences of working families, helping shape policies that better reflect local needs.
As New Mexico embraces the ALICE initiative, the goal is simple: ensure that every family, regardless of income level, has the opportunity to be stable, secure, and successful.
United Way organizations across the state, including Lea County, are committed to using this data to build stronger systems of support and create a more resilient New Mexico. As the CEO added, “This report doesn’t just tell us where we are; it helps us see where we need to go. And it’s going to take all of us working together to get there.”
With the ALICE initiative now launched statewide, New Mexico, including Lea County, is taking an important step toward understanding and addressing the real cost of living and helping more families thrive.
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