This ALICE simulation is a supplemental and separate tool from the ALICE report and is produced and operated independently from the ALICE report which is produced by United For ALICE as part of the United Way of Northern New Jersey.

If you are looking for the ALICE report for Idaho, please visit the following link for the full Idaho report from our partners at United For ALICE

Idaho ALICE Report

Making Tough Choices

You are about to put yourself in the shoes of a typical ALICE® family. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families are those that have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. In other words, they are struggling to make ends meet. More than one in four Eastern Idaho families are ALICE; combined with those in poverty, more than one in three Eastern Idaho households is experiencing financial hardship.

For the next few minutes, you’ll experience some of the tough choices that these families have to make every single day and how United Way is doing all that we can to help them along the way.

Making Tough Choices

You and your partner have two small children — one infant and one preschooler. After an unexpected layoff at your place of employment, you find yourself scrambling to find a new job. Your partner’s monthly earnings are $2000. But there is some good news. You have three real job opportunities. The interviews went well, so you have good reason to be optimistic.

Choose your job

Childcare worker

$10.95/hour , Full-time daily, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
5 days a week

Grocery Store Cashier

$10.31/hour, 3rd shift, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.,
5 days a week

Receptionist/Office Worker

$12.65/hour, Part-time, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
4 days a week

More than 50% of jobs in Eastern Idaho pay less than $16 per hour, most paying $10 - $15 per hour.

Workers who hold third-shift jobs are often faced with difficulty finding childcare and transportation.

More than 50% of jobs in Eastern Idaho pay less than $16 per hour, most paying $10 - $15 per hour.

Decide where you're going to live

Apartment Rental 1

2-bedroom unit in a large complex

Apartment Rental 2

2-bedroom unit in an old house

Single-Family Homeowner

Small house with 3 bedrooms

ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food, medicine and in some cases, heat.

Choose your childcare

Accredited Center-Based Childcare

Your children are cared for in a high-quality center with social development and a structured early learning curriculum.

Family, Friends and Neighbors

Your children are watched in your home or theirs, requiring you to cover basic expenses.

Licensed Home-Based Childcare

Your children are cared for by a licensed individual with other children.

Childcare is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold.

Choose your transportation

Bus

You and your partner each have a monthly bus pass.

Car

You and your partner have one car that is paid for. You have to pay for insurance and gas every month.

There is limited public transportation in Eastern Idaho making it essential for most households to have a car. Without one, it's difficult to get to work, shop for food or transport kids to childcare, school or other activities.

Choose your household food

Fresh

All of the freshest and healthiest options available to you including name brands

Low Cost

Limited amounts of healthy options with lots of frozen and processed foods and bargain brands

Mix

A combination of fresh and frozen options with a mix of name brands and bargain brands

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Payday$

Idaho ALICE Report

Making Tough Choices

Making Tough Choices

Choose your job

Childcare worker

Grocery Store Cashier

Receptionist/Office Worker

More than 50% of jobs in Eastern Idaho pay less than $16 per hour, most paying $10 - $15 per hour.

Workers who hold third-shift jobs are often faced with difficulty finding childcare and transportation.

More than 50% of jobs in Eastern Idaho pay less than $16 per hour, most paying $10 - $15 per hour.

Decide where you're going to live

Apartment Rental 1

Apartment Rental 2

Single-Family Homeowner

ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food, medicine and in some cases, heat.

ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food, medicine and in some cases, heat.

ALICE households are often forced to spend more than 35% of their income on rent/mortgage and utility costs. This requires them to make tough choices, often forgoing basic necessities such as food, medicine and in some cases, heat.

Choose your childcare

Accredited Center-Based Childcare

Family, Friends and Neighbors

Licensed Home-Based Childcare

Childcare is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold.

Childcare is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold.

Childcare is often the single largest expense for ALICE families. While there are subsidies for working families, some ALICE households exceed the eligibility threshold.

Choose your transportation

Bus

Car

There is limited public transportation in Eastern Idaho making it essential for most households to have a car. Without one, it's difficult to get to work, shop for food or transport kids to childcare, school or other activities.

There is limited public transportation in Eastern Idaho making it essential for most households to have a car. Without one, it's difficult to get to work, shop for food or transport kids to childcare, school or other activities.

Choose your household food

Fresh

Low Cost

Mix

Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 7 children in Eastern Idaho were food insecure.

In Eastern Idaho 1 in 5 ALICE families reported using a food pantry during the pandemic.

ALICE households often lack access to healthy and affordable food as well as the time to prepare it.

Challenge over...

You just ran out of money for the month.

You made it!

You made it through the month, though you probably faced some tough choices along the way.

Payday
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