As cost of living rises, United Way helps bridge gap for some families

We all know that the cost of living continues to rise. My parents told me my grandparents paid around $10,000 for their first home back in the 1940s. That just seems crazy to me. Clearly, life has become more expensive with the passage of time. This increase seems to affect the working poor the most.

As part of the United Way network, our United Way recently received some startling numbers about our community, reported in the statewide ALICE report.

According to the report, "ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed - households that earn more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living for the county." So how much does it cost to live and work in Citrus County? The ALICE report states the Household Survival Budget for a working single adult is $18,972 annually. For a family of four, including two adults, one infant and one preschooler, the cost of living in Citrus County is $48,552.

Let's do a deeper dive into the plight of the ALICE family. This is truly another name for Working Poor. These families do not make $48,552 annually, but they do make more than the federal poverty level, which is $24,250. The median household income in Citrus County is actually $40,294. In thinking of the families we serve at United Way, this number seems high. However, even at this higher number, working families are typically running at an annual deficit of $8,258. The Household Survival Budget of $48,552 is comprised of seven costs: housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, miscellaneous and taxes.

Missing from this list is SAVINGS. With just a huge annual deficit there is truly no ability to create savings. Without it, car repairs or the breakdown of a household appliance are nearly impossible to pay for.

So, what's the solution to helping these families advance out of this financial despair? At United Way, we believe the best way to help these families is to assist them in securing a better paying job. That happens through adult education. When someone in Citrus County earns a GED, their average annual income jumps up nearly $7,000. Additional education and professional certifications increase earning opportunities.

Additionally, we believe support of organizations like the Early Learning Coalition and the YMCA increase access to sliding scale child care costs. In the Household Survival Budget described in the report, childcare costs equal $10,560 annually, or $880 a month.

Early Learning Coalition helps working families by subsidizing their daycare costs. This is most helpful to parents with children who are 4 years old or younger.

The YMCA provides before- and after-school care for elementary kids. They also assist working families who need financial assistance for child care.

United Way invests heavily in these programs to make this extra funding more readily available.

The ALICE report in full of all kinds of great information. It can be viewed in its entirety at www.uwof.org/alice.

This information reminds us that we must continue to help support working families so they can achieve financial stability.

Amy Meek is CEO of United Way of Citrus County.