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Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed(KCBD Video)<\/p>\nLUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Nearly half of the households across Lubbock County are facing financial struggle, according to the latest ALICE Report from United Way.<\/p>\n
ALICE stands for \u201cAssets Limited, Income Constrained, Employed\u201d. According to United Way, the category represents individuals whose income places them above the federal poverty level but does not provide enough to afford necessities.<\/p>\n
Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed(KCBD Video)<\/p>\n
\u201cThe premise is to look at real-world economic situations and what that means for current wages,\u201d Jessica Adams, Lubbock United Way\u2019s Community Impact Director, said. \u201cThat is based on what it takes to survive each month – whether it\u2019s transportation, housing, childcare, food.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest report, which is based on data from 2024, indicates 42% of households around Lubbock County qualify as ALICE. Adams says that equals more than 62,000 people.<\/p>\n
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Nearly half of the households across Lubbock County are facing financial struggle, according to the latest ALICE Report from United Way.(Provided by United Way)<\/p>\n
Annual household survival budgets for Lubbock County (2024), per Lubbock Area United Way:<\/p>\n
Single adult: $29,436One adult, one child: $43,584One adult, one child in childcare: $48,168Two adults: $44,700Two adults, two children: $67,176Two adults, two children in childcare: $76,548Single adult aged 65+: $33,612Two adults aged 65+: $52,620<\/p>\n
That calculation considers rent, childcare, food, transportation, health care, technology, miscellaneous charges, and taxes.<\/p>\n
Adams says there\u2019s a big discrepancy between people who fall below the federal poverty level and those considered ALICE.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe federal poverty level is $33,000 for a family of four with two children. In an ALICE household, two adults with two children who attend daycare, those wages should be about $76,000. So that\u2019s a big gap, about $43,000, and just simply does not meet up with today\u2019s current standards,\u201d Adams said.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what makes it difficult for people to financially survive, Adams said, because most do not qualify for federal benefits, and must work multiple jobs to make ends meet. <\/p>\n
Adams says most of those families are left to make difficult choices.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I get my prescription filled or do I buy groceries for my family? Do I get those shoes for my child, or do I get gas in the car?\u201d Adams explained.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where area resources come into play. Lubbock Area United Way has 22 partner nonprofits, all of which are dedicated to serving those in need across the South Plains.<\/p>\n
\u201cALICE individuals don\u2019t want to slip back into poverty, they want to move out of poverty,\u201d Adams said. \u201cIt affects not only them but their children, their neighbors, schools, places of worship. United Way wants to step in and be their arm of support.\u201d<\/p>\n
United Way Partner Agencies<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cYes, times are tough, but it does not mean we give up,\u201d Adams said.<\/p>\n You can also call 2-1-1 if you need help. It\u2019s a free line that will connect you with resources across the area. No matter where you are, you can call and get referrals to local health and community services.<\/p>\n Adams says United Way\u2019s goal is to help individuals in need, in an effort to lift the community as a whole up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beautiful thing about the Lubbock community and the region is that we rally around our people,\u201d Adams said. \u201cIt\u2019s about looking towards those that are our neighbors and the future to change the narrative of what it means to live in West Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n Lubbock Area United Way<\/a> is kicking off its annual campaign on Thursday. It\u2019s raising money to support its partners and continue to help those in need. You can donate money to the cause, or time as a volunteer, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 KCBD. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Nearly half of the households across Lubbock County are facing financial struggle, according to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":417850,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[168,170,169],"class_list":["post-418033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lubbock","tag-lubbock","tag-lubbock-headlines","tag-lubbock-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418033","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=418033"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418033\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/417850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=418033"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=418033"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=418033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}