A recent study from the nonprofit organization United Way reveals that approximately one-third of households in Florida are struggling financially. While many of these homes earn more than the federal poverty line, their income often falls short of covering basic living expenses. The study identifies Hispanic and Black communities as particularly affected by these financial hardships.
Utilizing official data from the United States, United Way highlights that 33% of Florida’s households barely manage to get by. This is measured using their ALICE index, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The report indicates that in 2022, Florida’s struggles continued to be "underestimated" by official measures, even as residents faced lingering economic challenges stemming from the pandemic.
The report points out that the impacts of COVID-19 were compounded by rising inflation and the end of pandemic-related government assistance, which hit many Florida families already below the ALICE survival threshold. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of ALICE households increased by 182,493, pushing the total in this group to a concerning 33%. This marks an acceleration of a trend that has been growing for over a decade.
Additionally, the United Way report indicates that the number of households living in poverty also rose, though not as significantly, with an increase of 7,121 households, maintaining a poverty rate of 13% among all homes. By 2022, of the 8,800,279 households in Florida, 4,056,220—46%—were classified as below the ALICE threshold.
Financial struggles vary significantly across different racial and ethnic groups in Florida, largely due to "persistent systemic racism, discrimination, and geographical barriers" that limit many families’ access to resources and opportunities for financial stability. In 2022, 60% of Black and 52% of Hispanic households fell below the ALICE threshold, contrasting with 41% of white households and 38% of Asian households.
The pandemic further intensified these challenges, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic households, particularly in areas related to health and employment. The findings expose the urgent need for targeted assistance and policies to support these vulnerable communities in Florida.
For more insights and discussions on similar topics, you can explore further on United Way’s official website.
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