More than 257,530 households in Central Indiana are in, or one emergency away from, poverty.
That’s over one in three households.
Living in or near poverty is about more than a lack of income.
It brings with it daily stress, trauma and lack of opportunity. And it’s likely to repeat from one generation to the next.
The Federal Poverty Level is $31,200 for a family of four. In stark contrast, ALICE data shows the minimum cost for a family of four to live and work in Indiana in 2024 was $74,028 — more than double.
ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
ALICE households earn an income just above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what’s needed to survive in the modern economy. These families live paycheck to paycheck, struggle meeting their basic needs, and must make difficult choices such as deciding between quality child care, filling a prescription or paying the rent.
