When we discuss economic hardship in America, it’s easy to reduce the crisis to charts and percentages. But behind every number in the 2025 United Way ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report are families: cashiers working long shifts, childcare providers shaping young minds and essential workers juggling multiple jobs to keep food on the table.
The national report shows a staggering 42% of U.S. households fell below the ALICE Threshold, the lowest income level a household needs to cover essential expenses. In Miami-Dade County, that number rises to 54%, meaning more than half of working families are in poverty or unable to afford the basics. In response, United Ways across the country are coming together to confront this reality and advance solutions that provide families with stability and opportunity.
That is why this moment matters. Miami is the right place to host the 2026 National ALICE Summit, where more than 700 leaders from corporate, government, nonprofit, healthcare and philanthropy sectors, representing communities in more than 40 states, are convening to drive policy, share proven solutions and chart a path forward for ALICE families. The summit underscores a critical truth: while ALICE is a national challenge, solutions must be local, coordinated and collective…