Many Butler households lack basic necessities
One-third of Butler County households cannot afford basic necessities, according to United Way of Pennsylvania data released Wednesday.
In Butler city, the number is 59%.
The United Way of Pennsylvania released its data on families whose employment earns them more than the federal poverty level, but not enough to afford basic necessities.
The households, known as “ALICE” families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), total 1.35 million Pennsylvanians, according to the United Way report.
Also known as the working poor, adults in the ALICE category are employed, but unable to afford necessary expenses such as housing, food, child care, health care and transportation.
In Butler County, 33% of households qualify as ALICE. Only four of Pennsylvania's counties scored a lower percentage.
Amy Franz, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania's Butler Region director, said the low percentage is due in part to the disparity in the number of ALICE households in municipalities throughout the county.
For example, Franz said 15% of the roughly 12,000 households in Cranberry Township are ALICE households compared to 59% of Butler's 5,853 households.
Franz said the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania's Butler Region constantly monitors the calls coming in to the 211 line, where those with needs can call to determine which services may be available to them.
She said since the coronavirus pandemic started in March 2020, the top needs among 211 callers in Butler County have been housing, utility assistance and questions about COVID-19.Franz said 211 operators take information from callers regarding how far behind they are in their utility bills, for example. The callers may be matched with programs to help them pay those bills.Callers are often also referred to Center for Community Resources, which is the central agency in Butler County for services for those in need, Franz said.Many adults in ALICE households in Butler County have been asking about rental assistance since the pandemic began, Franz said.She said many landlords are just as frustrated as renters over the guidelines coming out for rental assistance.“The process is intimidating moving along, and they can't go through with it,” Franz said.She said many of those in ALICE households struggle each month with the decision on whether to pay the landlord or utility bills.“Some people have opted not to pay any utility bills during the pandemic because they are in the cycle of not doing anything until they get a shut-off notice,” Franz said.She said the statewide ALICE report was shocking, as it proved that 77% of ALICE households do not have enough savings to pay for one month's expenses.
Phil Falvo, public policy director with United Way of Pennsylvania, said due to the hardship revealed in the ALICE report, United Way is advocating for the state Legislature to institute a state income tax credit for those households.He said 30 other states offer their working poor a state income tax credit, which could mean an additional $620 to $680 per household for the ALICE households in Pennsylvania.“It would depend on how it's structured,” Falvo said.Kristen Rotz, president of United Way of Pennsylvania, said Pennsylvania did not excel at equitably distributing its $852 million in federal coronavirus funds.“State lawmakers need to think equally about family and business recovery,” Rotz said. “The ALICE data shows that working families are struggling.”She said because many work in essential jobs, adults in ALICE households are more heavily affected by the COVID-19 virus, yet did not receive the assistance they needed.Rebecca O'Shea, advocacy engagement coordinator for the state United Way, said many adults in ALICE households work in health care, construction, child care, agriculture and retail.“Those jobs are paying less than $20 an hour, even though they nurture and support the economy the most,” O'Shea said.She also said low-wage jobs have been increasing substantially in the state since 2007.“That shows where our economy is going,” O'Shea said.The United Way's ALICE report is available at uwp.org/ALICE.
