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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                     Contact: Uriah Williams
Shawano, WI — June 24, 2026                             unitedwayofshawanocounty@gmail.com

NEW ALICE DATA SHOWS 35% OF SHAWANO COUNTY HOUSEHOLDS CAN’T AFFORD BASICS

Thousands of hard-working Wisconsin families remain unable to afford the basics

Shawano, Wis. — The Shawano Area United Way in partnership with United Way of Wisconsin released the 2026 State of ALICE report, a data-driven look at the realities faced by Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households. 

The report reveals that 35% of households in Shawano County and 48% of households in Menominee County cannot afford the basic cost of living and struggle to get by. National and State ALICE reports are authored by United For ALICE, a project of United Way of Northern New Jersey.

The ALICE Report goes beyond traditional poverty measures to reflect the true costs of living in our community. The report establishes a Household Survival Budget, which includes the true cost of housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, technology, taxes, and a modest allowance for miscellaneous expenses, specific to every county in Wisconsin.

While the report describes 13% of Shawano County households (2,167 households) live beneath the federal poverty line, the new research demonstrates that 22% (3,827 households) were beneath the ALICE threshold, earning above the poverty level but still unable to cover basic needs. When combined, the data reveals that 35% of all households in Shawano County are experiencing financial hardship with a significantly higher percentage for Menominee County.

“ALICE data represents more than just numbers. It reflects our communities, our neighbors, and the families who work hard every day and still can’t get ahead,” said Uriah Williams, Executive Director of our United Way, “Local United Ways see this reality up close, and we’re committed to bringing partners together to create solutions that make stability possible.”

The State of ALICE in Wisconsin also reveals that in 2024:

• Wisconsin ranked 7th in financial hardship among all 50 states plus the District of Columbia (with 1st place representing the lowest rate of hardship).
• ALICE households were found in every major industry statewide, with the highest levels of hardship experienced by those working in accommodation and food services.
• Poverty rates in the Shawano Area have remained relatively flat since 2010, while the number of ALICE households has steadily increased. 
• Minimum wage workers in Wisconsin have seen no hourly pay rise since 2009. Yet for one full-time adult worker with one school-age child, that wage still was not enough to support the ALICE Household Survival Budget, the minimum cost of basics, in any county across the state of Wisconsin.

The Shawano Area United Way works to strengthen the community for ALICE Households by supporting local agencies through grant funding, volunteerism efforts, and advocacy, guiding local strategic efforts such as the Food and Housing Coalitions, and running direct programs like our Diaper Bank and Community Dinner.

“We invite individuals, businesses, and policy makers to be part of the solution,” said Williams. “You can volunteer your time, donate to our local United Way, or advocate for policy and workplace changes in your community”.

More state and local data is available through the State of ALICE Report and the ALICE Essential Index which can both be accessed online at unitedwaywi.org/page/ALICE 

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About Shawano Area United Way: 

Founded in 1968, Shawano Area United Way serves Shawano and Menominee Counties by mobilizing resources, partnerships, and community support to improve education, financial stability, and health. The organization provides funding allocations to registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating within its service area and has expanded its impact through direct programs and community initiatives, including the Snuggled with a Hug Diaper Bank, Community Dinners, the Local Community Resource Card, Food and Housing Coalitions, and nonprofit support through education, advocacy, and volunteer engagement.

About United for ALICE: 

United For ALICE is a U.S. research organization driving innovation, research and action to improve life across the country for ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all. Through the development of the ALICE measurements, a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship has emerged. Harnessing this data and research on the mismatch between low-paying jobs and the cost of survival, ALICE partners convene, advocate and collaborate on solutions that promote financial stability at local, state and national levels. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 41 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin; we are United For ALICE. For more information, visit: UnitedForALICE.org.