INSIGHTS THAT GUIDE OUR WORK
Report to the Community 2024-2025
Our region is growing. With a $266 billion economy, Greater Cleveland is one of the top 20 economic regions in the nation. But for many families, progress hasn’t arrived at their front door. Almost half of the families in Greater Cleveland live paycheck to paycheck, many of them employed but yet still struggling to make ends meet.
The cost of living rises. Wages lag behind. Racial and economic gaps persist.
Every call that comes into United Way’s 211 helpline provides insight into people’s needs, the resources that are effective, and the gaps that still exist. These unique insights, along with the data from United Way’s Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) report, allow us to guide investments and create programs that are grounded in the lived reality of our community.
ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED (ALICE)
United Way of Greater Cleveland, alongside United Ways across Ohio, released the 2025 Ohio ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report in May 2025. The report highlights the struggles of households earning above the Federal Poverty Level but below the cost of living.
ALICE data reveals the true financial picture, showing how wages, rising costs, and policies affect working families across every county in Ohio. United Way continues to use ALICE data to educate legislators, nonprofits, philanthropy, and businesses about the urgent needs of ALICE households.
Since May 2025, United Way has briefed over 400 stakeholders through sessions across the state and generated coverage in outlets including Ideastream, The Plain Dealer/ cleveland.com, Cleveland Jewish News, Spectrum, and WEWS.
39% of Ohio households struggle to cover basic needs like food, housing, childcare, healthcare, and transportation.
- It costs $65,000–$79,000 annually to support a family of four in Ohio, depending on childcare needs.
- ALICE rates are similar across urban (38%) and rural (40%) communities.
In Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, ALICE households far exceed those in poverty.
- Cuyahoga: 16% in poverty vs. 27% ALICE
- Geauga: 6% in poverty vs. 22% ALICE
- Cost to support a family of four: $73,000–$90,000
- Yet, two full-time workers in common industries earn just $55,000, nearly $20,000 short.
United Way advocated for these state budget priorities to support ALICE families:
- A $1,000 state-level Child Tax Credit
- Expanded eligibility for Publicly Funded Childcare
- Statewide funding for Ohio 211
- Support for the Siemer Family Institute’s Family Stability Programs
THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF WORK
The Social Determinants of Work are the conditions that shape a person’s ability to find, keep, and excel in a job, including:
- access to affordable childcare
- safe and reliable transportation
- stable housing
- healthcare
- digital connectivity
- education and training
- legal support
- job flexibility
When these supports are absent, even the most motivated individuals face barriers to sustaining employment and advancing.
United Way of Greater Cleveland is working to address these challenges by connecting families to critical resources, partnering with employers to strengthen workplace supports, and advocating for policies that remove barriers to economic mobility.
By focusing on the social determinants of work, United Way helps ensure that every individual has a fair opportunity to succeed in the workforce and build lasting stability.
