We say it often around Good Sam: In some ways, we are all one incident away from experiencing homelessness, one accident, one job loss, one illness away from losing much of what we have.
For nearly 40% of Pennsylvanians, this is a very real reality. These households—often referred to as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—have an income above the Federal Poverty Line but still live paycheck to paycheck, often unable to make ends meet.
For these individuals, hard decisions are made on the daily: Pay for utilities or a car repair? Buy food for the family, fulfill a prescription, or fall behind on rent? Many are single parents, working full-time and juggling expenses in an economy where the cost of basic necessities are always rising.
When you break down expenses of what this looks like on average, the numbers are staggering. According to United for ALICE, a general budget for a single parent living in Chester County with one child in childcare could look something like this:
- Housing: $1,340
- Childcare: $1,177
- Food: $902
- Transportation: $520
- Healthcare: $393
- Technology: $86
- Taxes: $653
- Miscellaneous: $442
Add all that up and the total estimate of monthly expenses for that household is $5,513.
A single parent would need to make around $33 per hour to be able to afford all those expenses each month. However, in PA the most common occupations for households living below the ALICE Threshold are personal care aids, nursing assistant, janitors/building cleaners, cashiers, and cooks, all of whom often make less than $20 an hour.
Rising housing costs don’t make things easier and many of these households are spending much of their income just making sure they can keep a roof over their family’s heads. In 2023, 43% of households below the ALICE Threshold were putting over half of their income toward housing. Twenty-six percent were putting 30%-40% of their income toward housing. That leaves little for other expenses, including childcare, food, and utilities.
With the low-income wages and high (but necessary!) expenses, do you see how quickly one could face housing insecurity? Unlike stereotypes suggest, homelessness isn’t a result of “laziness” or “poor-budgeting,” it’s often faced by hard-working individuals working paycheck to paycheck but unable to cover the costs of day-to-day expenses. A bigger than usual bill, unexpected expense, or drop in pay can cause them to miss a rent payment and suddenly they are facing housing insecurity.
Many of our participants in our supportive housing come from this demographic, people who are employed and working hard, but whose income simply does not make ends meet. Sometimes all they need is a little support to get through their rough patch and back to stability.
At Good Sam, we are here to provide that support. Our supportive housing program provides case management, rental assistance and support for 3+ months, helping these individuals stay in their homes. We also work alongside those we serve to connect them with resources that can alleviate the burden of everyday expenses, while equipping them with the tools and guidance needed to navigate these challenges and build long-term stability.
Safe housing is human right, and we walk beside neighbors facing homelessness and insecurity every single day, ensuring they have the resources they need to regain stability.
*Stats and numbers pulled from United for ALICE.
