Nearly one-third of Door County households are struggling to make ends meet, according to recent data released by United for ALICE and the United Way of Door County.
Of the county's households, 31% fell below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, including 9% living below the federal poverty line.
Door County is faring better than the state average, with 22% of households classified as ALICE compared with 24% statewide, and 9% living in poverty compared with 11% statewide.
United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle said that while the percentages declined slightly from a year ago, there has been little real improvement in the actual number of households living in poverty or below the ALICE threshold. She said people struggling with student loans, credit card debt, and high mortgage and vehicle payments are often the most vulnerable when it comes to meeting household survival and stability budgets.
Kohnle added that an organization's ability to positively impact the ALICE population is a major factor when community grant funding is awarded.
One program intended to support the ALICE population is Thriving in Door County, a free, confidential initiative designed to help individuals build financial stability through personalized, self-paced training. Kohnle said the program is still being developed and is expected to launch in the near future.
