41% of Monroe County households can't afford the basics. That's one of the key findings from the 2026 State of ALICE report. Big appreciation to the news team at WFIU and WTIU News for shining a light on this challenge.
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that earn too much for federal assistance but not enough to cover housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, and technology.
Across south central Indiana, 39% of households — nearly 46,000 families — are in poverty or ALICE. Statewide, that number climbs to over a million households.
UWSCI President and CEO Randy Rogers spoke with WFIU/WTIU about what's driving the strain locally, from rising housing costs to job cuts at major area employers.
"They're making decisions that are challenging for their family," Rogers said. "Do we put food on the table this week? Do we pay our utility bill?"
Read and watch WFIU/WTIU's coverage of the report:
📰 https://www.ipm.org/news/2026-06-29/united-way-more-households-struggling
📺 https://youtu.be/9R5pRaD_h5U
We're grateful to WFIU/WTIU for helping bring these findings to our community. #UnitedIsTheWay #UnitedWaySCI