A significant portion of Maryland’s workforce, encompassing cashiers, cooks, health aides, child care providers, office staff and more, live just one emergency away from financial crisis even though most of them are working full-time, according to the United Way’s report on ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – workers. Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images
What would you do if, despite working full-time, you didn’t earn enough to cover the basics?
What would you do if, after buying groceries and covering the rent, you had to decide which expenses to delay? Your choices: an essential car repair, a vital doctor appointment, or safe, nurturing child care. Do you fix the car so you can get to work on time? Do you finally see the doctor, preventing your health issue from spiraling into a medical crisis? Or do you ensure your child is left in safe and dependable hands?
These are just some of the questions faced by ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families every day, and the questions that every voter should be considering as they cast their ballot in this year’s presidential election.