ALICE® is a United Way acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and represents those individuals and families who are working but still struggling to make ends meet. Your child care worker, the cashier at your supermarket, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk... anyone can be living under the ALICE threshold.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability of ALICE workers - hard working individuals and families who already struggled to pay the bills, having little or nothing to put into savings and 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 households over the edge, let alone a global pandemic!
Essential ALICE workers continue to keep our infrastructure running - often at a risk to their own safety.
Non-essential ALICE workers have experienced reduced work hours and lay-offs.
Black ALICE households are contracting COVID-19 at higher rates than their white counterparts.
ALICE families with children face additional hardship as childcare centers and schools are closed.
Please help Rappahannock United Way support local ALICE families during this devastating crisis. The impact of this pandemic affects the health and economic well-being of our community at large. In 2020, Rappahannock United Way provided financial assistance to more than 600 local households - paying mortgage, rent and transportation bills to keep individuals and families remain safely housed and in work.
As COVID-19 cases in our area continue to rise, so does the need in our community. As always, we simply cannot do this without you. Your continued support of our ALICE community is critical. Please continue to BE THERE with us as we work to protect those who are ALICE against the economic impact of COVID-19.
Together, we can work to create a community that is hopeful, resilient and self-sufficient.
How the ALICE Assistance Fund Helps
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are one of many families Rappahannock United Way helped in 2020. In March, Mr. Thomas' company was hit hard by the COVID- 19 pandemic and was forced to close. This was a huge shock to the Thomas family – their only source of income was gone overnight. To make matters more stressful, their 3 small children were now home full time as schools moved to 100% virtual learning. Though they cut back drastically on their spending, the family’s savings and the Economic Impact Payment was quickly spent on keeping up with bills and groceries.
“I never thought this could happen to me and my family. We were extremely stressed out because we weren’t sure how we were going to provide for our family of three small children. We were forced to do the unthinkable and decide if we wanted to feed our kids or pay our mortgage; and of course we opted to make sure we had food on the table.” - Mrs. Thomas
The Thomas family heard about Rappahannock United Way's Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program and made the difficult decision to ask for help. Through the generous support of local donors and partners, RUW had the funds available to assist the Thomas family - helping them avoid foreclosure and keep their family home.
As of 01/24/22
Help for Individuals & Families
ALICE Assistance
If you are currently employed and have experienced a life event that has impacted you financially, you might be eligible for ALICE Assistance - Learn More
2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1 from your phone to access free information and referrals for health and human services Learn More
COVID-19 Resources
Check out our COVID-19 resource page for an up to date list of childcare, employment, healthcare and other resources Learn More