GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – According to the new ALICE report released by the United Way of Wisconsin, more than one-third of households in the state can’t afford the basic necessities.
Tom Schoffelman, the Vice President of Resource Development and Communication for the United Way in Brown County, tells FOX 11 families in the area are experiencing the same struggles.
“They are people that contribute to the community and doing everything but they’re struggling because they don’t earn enough.”
In Wisconsin, it takes $60,000 a year to afford basic necessities for a family of four.
In Brown County, the average family brings in a little more than $56,000.
Schoffelman said that leaves more than 30 percent of local families living without.
“Food, this is childcare, paying your taxes, transportation so the basics that people need to survive.”
The same report showed one of the hardest hit demographics were those with disabilities and the elderly.
Laurie Ropson, the outreach coordinator for the Aging and Disability Resource Center in Green Bay, tells FOX 11 the center’s main job is to help those find the resources they need to make ends meet.
“Persons who are people over 60 or disabled can be moving along just fine and then their disability progresses and that can really stress their budgets. We look for things that can help them free up dollars, or help with benefit check-ups for medical, prescription drugs or freeing up some housing costs.”
With this report, United Way is hoping it will help change perceptions and increase understanding so communities can help more households reach financial stability.
