PC: Fox 11 Online
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A new study from the United Way shows about one in three families in Wisconsin are struggling to afford basic expenses.
A significant portion of that group is households with one or two people working full time.
Amy Geurden of Little Chute makes $21 an hour, but admits finances are tight.
“As a single parent, you’re always one medical emergency or one car repair or one unexpected bill away from financial disaster,” said Geurden. “There’s no peace living like that.”
Jennifer Bryan of New London has her three adult children living with her, helping them save money so they can eventually move out on their own.
“You have to make so much money in order to afford $1,200 a month,” Bryan said of rent prices in the Fox Cities. “And then on top of that, if you have a car payment, for example, or if you have car insurance, you have to have renters’ insurance, then you also have to afford food.”
Since 2010, the number of households in Wisconsin that are above the federal poverty line, but not making enough to afford basic expenses in the county where they live, has gone up 12%, according to research from United Way Wisconsin.
The federal poverty level in 2023 was $14,580 for a single adult and $30,000 for a family of four.
The latest numbers from 2023 show 24% of households — or 593,843 in the state — identify as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, but Employed.
“A lot of times these are working families. These are two income families that are having a really difficult time,” said Lisa Kogan-Praska, the president and CEO of the United Way Fox Cities.
Kogan-Praska says it’s important people know about resources like calling 211 to connect to thousands of local programs and services that could help.
“It’s been a trend that’s been around for a while, but as costs continue to escalate, we’re starting to see that more and more people are falling into these gaps,” said Kogan-Praska.
The study is based off a single person needing $27,636 per year for what it calls a survival budget, which includes housing, child care, food, transportation, technology, 10% miscellaneous and taxes.
The amount is $77,112 for a family of four with an infant and preschooler in child care.
Those who are paying bills say those budgets are hard to fathom considering the cost of what’s available, especially for housing and childcare.
“I think there’s no room for error,” said Geurden. “I think that’s the issue for a lot of this.”
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