Tue Sep 10 17:02:02 UTC 2024: ## Millions of Nonprofit Workers Live on the Brink of Poverty, Report Finds
**New York, NY** – A recent report by United for ALICE has revealed that 3 million nonprofit employees in the United States, nearly a quarter of the entire workforce, are living just above the federal poverty line. These workers, who often play a crucial role in filling gaps in the social safety net, are themselves struggling to make ends meet.
The report defines the “ALICE” demographic as Americans who are “Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, and Employed,” meaning they earn above the federal poverty line but cannot afford essential necessities like housing, food, and healthcare in their local area. This threshold can vary widely depending on the cost of living and household size, with families in expensive cities like Alexandria, Virginia, requiring significantly more income than those in El Paso, Texas.
Many of these individuals find themselves caught in a Catch-22. Their income is often too high to qualify for government assistance programs, yet they lack the financial stability to comfortably support themselves and their families.
“There’s no help,” said Lisa Kelley, a 47-year-old nonprofit worker in Cincinnati, Ohio. “If you make too much, there’s no help; if you are healthy, there’s no help; if you don’t have kids, there’s no help.”
The report also highlights the specific struggles faced by younger nonprofit workers and single parents. Nearly 37% of nonprofit workers under 25 fall into the ALICE category, while over 50% of single-parent nonprofit employees live below the ALICE threshold. Additionally, racial disparities are apparent, with 35% of Black nonprofit workers struggling financially compared to 16% of their white counterparts.
The situation underscores a systemic issue in the US social safety net. The current poverty threshold, based on outdated calculations from the 1960s, fails to accurately reflect the realities of today’s cost of living, leaving many struggling individuals without access to crucial support programs.
“We need help, especially those of us that are trying to go to work every day,” said Cherie Tobias, a 48-year-old server in Michigan who lives on $25,000 a year. “No matter how we feel, no matter how much pain we’re in, we’re going to try to push through to provide—but we go home defeated.”
This report sheds light on the hidden struggle of a significant segment of the American workforce who dedicate their lives to helping others, yet are themselves left vulnerable by the system they strive to improve. The issue raises pressing questions about the adequacy of current assistance programs and the need for broader social reforms to address the growing challenge of poverty in the 21st century.
First Piper 