Working, and still falling short
- New United for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) statistics show 1 in 4 Cuyahoga County workers struggle to get by, with Geauga County not far behind.
- Report shows that lifting all Ohio households to the ALICE threshold could have generated $47.3 billion in statewide economic activity—a 32% return on investment.
- United Way of Greater Cleveland is working with community partners to support programs that directly address the needs of the ALICE population.
Media Contact:
Katie Connell, United Way of Greater Cleveland: 404-895-5513
CLEVELAND (May 12, 2025) – In 2023, 27% of workers in Ohio’s 20 most common jobs lived in households that could not afford basics, according to new data from United Way of Greater Cleveland and its research partner United for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), up from 25%, or a 2% increase, as compared to the 2023 ALICE report. These workers represent the backbone of every community and include delivery drivers, fast food and counter workers, registered nurses, and teachers.
The State of ALICE in Ohio reveals that traditional measures of poverty have severely undercounted the number of households countywide living in financial hardship, including residents of Cuyahoga and Geauga counties.
In Cuyahoga County, 16% of all households lived in poverty in 2023, with an additional 27% in the ALICE population. Combined, 43% of the county’s households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2023, a 10% increase since 2019.
In Geauga County, 6% of all households lived in poverty in 2023, with an additional 22% in the ALICE population. Combined, 28% of the county’s households fell below the ALICE Threshold of Financial Survival in 2023, an almost 8% increase since 2019.
ALICE households bring in less than the basic costs of housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes. Yet because their income is above the Federal Poverty Level, they often don’t qualify for assistance.
“Too many hardworking families in our community are still struggling just to get by,” said Sharon Sobol Jordan, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Cleveland. “That is nearly 1 in every 4 Cuyahoga County households and 1 in every 5 Geauga County households facing this daily reality, often holding multiple jobs but still unable to make ends meet.”
The struggle for ALICE families comes from the gap between wages and expenses. In 2023, a family of four with two children in childcare in Cuyahoga County needed $90,852 just to cover the essentials – triple the Federal Poverty Level of $30,000. Yet even with both parents working full time in two of the most common jobs – a personal care aide and a stock worker/order filler – this family’s combined income still fell short of the cost of basics by more than $25,000.
Details of the ALICE statistics by county
Cuyahoga County
- Some groups face financial hardship at disproportionate rates, with 74% of the youngest and 53% of the oldest households falling below the ALICE threshold in Cuyahoga County, compared with 35% of households headed by someone ages 45 to 64.
- Full- and part-time workers paid by the hour, who are more likely to have fluctuations in income and less likely to receive benefits, make up 36% of the workforce in the county.
- The ALICE population is 25% or higher in 36 of the 57 Cuyahoga County municipalities in the report.
Geauga County
- Some groups face financial hardship at disproportionate rates, with 53% of the youngest (under 25 years) and 39% of the oldest (65 and over) households falling below the ALICE threshold in Geauga County, compared with 19% of households headed by someone ages 45 to 64.
- Full- and part-time workers paid by the hour, who are more likely to have fluctuations in income and less likely to receive benefits, make up 37% of the workforce in the county.
- The ALICE population is 25% or higher in 14 of the 19 Geauga County municipalities in the report.
How United Way of Greater Cleveland is helping the ALICE population
United Way of Greater Cleveland works with several community partners to support programs that address the needs of the ALICE population.
In Cuyahoga County:
- Make it Home Cleveland is a program committed to giving people living in tax-forfeited properties the opportunity to purchase the property before it is sold to someone else. The program combines personalized guidance with resources intended to ensure a smooth transition to homeownership. In 2024, the program helped more than 40 families.
- Bridge to Two uses a home-based approach to early education preparedness. The program uses home visits to build relationships with parents and caregivers to create quality learning experiences, develop language and literacy skills, and support social and emotional growth for children and their parents. In 2024, the program served 60 families in parent skill-building programs.
- Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition provides free tax preparation assistance and financial services. In 2024, the coalition helped 10,000 Cuyahoga County residents receive more than $11.7 million in tax refunds, putting money back into the pockets of working families.
In Geauga County:
- Geauga Poverty Collaborative is a group of case managers from seven social service agencies that provide up to $1,000 in one-time assistance for unexpected expenses like car repairs or rent. In 2024, the collaborative assisted 63 families, helping them avoid costly payday loans, lost wages, and eviction.
- Geauga County Aging and Disability Resource Center provides benefits counseling and long-term planning for adults over 60, people living with disabilities, and their families. In 2024, the center connected more than 1,332 people with support services, helped 125 people with utility and rent assistance, and delivered almost 600 meals to residents under the age of 60 living with a disability.
- Bridges@Work provides employees with resources and services to help them maintain employment and succeed at work. In 2024, the program provided 465 employees with resource coordination services and 230 workers with financial wellness workshops.
“Everything we do at United Way of Greater Cleveland is focused on helping hardworking families build their own financial security,” Jordan added. “United Way 211 is the front door to support and opportunity–anytime, anywhere, for anyone. With 211, none of us need to figure it out alone.”
Ohio legislators have shown support for the ALICE population by allocating funding for programs and initiatives that have increased access to health and behavioral health services for children and families, higher education scholarships, workforce upskilling and readiness programs, and childcare assistance.
United Way of Greater Cleveland continues to join United Ways across the state, advocating for additional support, including:
- Reinstating the $1,000 child tax credit;
- Offering publicly funded childcare for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level;
- Allocating funding to Ohio 211 to ensure statewide access; and,
- Reinstating funding for the Siemer Family Institute, which works to prevent homelessness.
Households below the ALICE Threshold play a vital role in the community as neighbors, family members, and civic participants. They also contribute to the economy as workers, consumers, and taxpayers. However, the research continues to show a clear trend that financial hardship is widespread and not going away. Collaborative efforts at the local, state, and federal levels are needed to change the trajectory for ALICE households.
Using Moody’s Analytics’ economic multiplier for consumer spending, the ALICE report shows that a $1 increase in spending on basic needs leads to a $1.34 increase in economic activity. In Ohio, bringing all households to the ALICE threshold in 2023 would have created $47.3 billion in new economic activity, a 32% return on investment equivalent to 7% of state Gross Domestic Product in 2023.
To learn more about the ALICE populations in Cuyahoga and Geauga counties, and access interactive dashboards that provide data on financial hardship at the state, county, and local levels, visit UnitedForALICE.org/Ohio. The next ALICE update will be available in 2026.
About United Way of Greater Cleveland:
United Way of Greater Cleveland is a local, independent nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty and creating pathways to financial stability and economic mobility for all residents. Working with cross-sector partners, United Way addresses critical community needs, bringing together resources and data-driven solutions to build a stronger future for all Greater Clevelanders. To learn more, visit www.unitedwaycleveland.org.
About United For ALICE
United For ALICE is a U.S. research organization driving innovation, research, and action to improve life across the country for ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all. Through the development of the ALICE measurements, a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship has emerged. Harnessing this data and research on the mismatch between low-paying jobs and the cost of survival, ALICE partners convene, advocate and collaborate on solutions that promote financial stability at local, state and national levels. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 35 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai’i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin; we are United For ALICE. For more information, visit: UnitedForALICE.org.
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