Beyond the Poverty Line: Meeting the Needs of Steuben County’s ALICE Families
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
When we think of poverty, we often think of unemployment. But in Steuben County, the face of financial struggle is frequently a person working 40+ hours a week. At Fremont Youth and Community Outreach, we see them every day: the childcare workers, the retail managers, and the healthcare aides who keep our community running but often can't afford to live in it.
Understanding the ALICE Data
They are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
According to the most recent Indiana ALICE reports, Steuben County presents a unique challenge. While our official poverty rate is around 11%, our ALICE population is significantly higher at 25%. Combined, nearly 36% or 1 in 3 households in Steuben County live below the ALICE Threshold.
ALICE households earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, which means they often don't qualify for SNAP or Medicaid. However, they earn less than the actual Household Survival Budget required to live in Northern Indiana. They are one flat tire, or one emergency room visit away from a total financial collapse.
Our Expertise
For over 20 years, FYCO has served as the safety net for the people the system overlooks.
Nutritional Equity: Because we don't have the same rigid income caps as federal programs, our food pantry provides high-quality, fresh produce to those who earn too much for state assistance but too little for the grocery store.
Vetting for CarePortal: As the vetting organization for CarePortal in Steuben County, we identify these invisible crises before they lead to child welfare involvement. We see the gap, and we bridge it.
Financial stability shouldn't be a luxury for the working class. Join us in supporting the 36% of our neighbors who are working hard but falling behind. www.HopeHouseFYCO.org/donate
