United Way of Blount County works to create lasting change in our community. But we know we can’t do it on our own. We understand that to make a difference in Blount County we have to work together to achieve so much more than we can alone. That’s why United Way collaborates with multiple organizations throughout the county, region, and state to make a bigger difference in our community. From community impact to our initiatives, United Way of Blount County is working to advance the common good.

One of our newest initiatives is ALICE.  ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget.

For many families, the cost of living out paces what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs – housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and necessary technology.

ALICE is your child care worker, the cashier at the grocery store, the gas attendant, the waitress, the home health aide, the office clerk. ALICE cannot always pay the bills, has little or nothing in savings, and is forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push these financially strapped families over the edge.

81% of the services provided by United Way of Blount County partner agencies support ALICE.

Thank you for coming alongside us in this work. Whatever you’ve already done and whatever you’ll do in the future, thank you. It makes a real difference.

https://www.unitedforalice.org/wage-tool 

https://unitedwayblount.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ALICE-2021.pdf

https://unitedwayblount.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Blount_HouseholdBudgets.pdf