United Way Report Finds 35% of Wisconsin Households Cannot Afford Basic Needs

Thursday, June 25th, 2026 -- 11:00 AM

(WBAY) Thirty-five percent of Wisconsin households cannot afford basic needs such as housing, food, utilities and child care, according to the United Way’s annual ALICE report.

The United Way report says 11% of Wisconsin homes live below the federal poverty line. Another 24% fall below what the United Way calls the ALICE threshold, the income needed to meet basic household expenses, even when people are employed.

ALICE means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed. That 24% may not qualify for much public assistance because of their employment or because their income is above the federal poverty line, according to the report.

Those households are more likely to live paycheck to paycheck, make choices between expenses such as food and health care, and have less ability to cover unexpected costs, such as a car repair bill, or recover from difficulties, such as a medical emergency.

In Brown County, 35% of households live below the ALICE threshold. Among house holders under age 25, the share below the threshold rose to 62% in 2024 from 48% the year before.

In Outagamie County, 30% of households are below the ALICE line. The report shows 36% are below the line in Winnebago County, 33% in Manitowoc County, 31% in Door County and 35% in Marinette County.

The United for ALICE calculator shows the costs of basic expenses by county for different household sizes and age groups. Nationwide, the report says an average 41% of households live below the ALICE threshold.

People employed in food services or accommodation industries were more likely to experience financial hardship, according to the report.

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