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A third of Michigan households were struggling financially before pandemic

"Grants for single moms utility bills" by Grant Source is licensed with CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

A new report shows more than a third of Michigan households were struggling even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Way report documents the challenges facing Michigan’s working poor families.

These so-called 'ALICE' families have limited assets and make minimal, typically hourly working wages....that do not cover the basic costs of living.

Mike Larson is the CEO of the Michigan Association of United Ways. 

“The ALICE population was completely unprepared to weather a storm like the one we have faced this past year,” said Larson.

According to the report, one in four Michigan households are above te poverty line make less than the basic cost of living.

Hispanic, Black and single, female-headed with children households are more likely to fall in this category.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005.