6 United Way Fox Cities | 2017
E
ach day, United Way Fox Cities attempts to do the
impossible. rough research we take a long, hard
look at the problems in our community. Poverty,
mental health, domestic abuse, homelessness and
early childhood development oen make the top of the
list. ese issues aren't simple to solve; in fact some might
say impossible. But we know we must fight for those
whose names we do not know.
In the Fox Cities we are concerned about families, jobs,
and economic stability. We know that education, financial
stability and access to quality health care can improve
circumstances and increase household stability. We also
know that every day, hardworking individuals and families
are struggling to make ends meet.
To better understand those issues, United Ways in
Wisconsin have joined together with other United Ways
across the county to provide high-quality, research-based
information to foster a better understanding of who
is struggling in our community. is report measures
the number and conditions of households struggling
financially, and it introduces the term ALICE, Asset
Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
rough the preparation of this report we have
learned that 42 percent of Wisconsin households are not
earning enough to "get by." While ALICE families are
working hard, they are forced to make tough financial
B Y N A N C I M I C K E
Getting to know
