More for Less | Feeling the pinch? Go ask ALICE and call 2-1-1

People drive through to donate food during the WESH 2 Share Your Christmas Food Drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank at DeLuca Toyota on State Road 200 in Ocala on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

Editor’s Note: Because we’re all feeling the pinch of inflation, the Gazette has begun “More for Less,” a recurring list of budget-friendly things to experience and buy to help stretch your dollar a little further. 

Are you or someone you know struggling to pay the bills? Has the landlord raised the rent again, forcing an unplanned relocation? Are you tired of the same low-paying job, or do you just want to be better at managing money?

According to a report by the United Way of Florida, around 60,000 Marion County households are unable to afford the basics of housing, food, health care, childcare and transportation, despite individuals working hard to earn a living.

The ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed Report – details a large population of residents who are working, earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but still have difficulty affording the basic necessities of housing, food, childcare, health care and transportation.

United For ALICE is a nonprofit organization conducting research and putting ideas into action to improve the quality of life for Americans across the U.S. They say their ALICE measurements are a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship that has emerged.

In Marion County, more than 38,820 households live above poverty level but below the ALICE threshold or the basic cost of living. Combined, ALICE and poverty households account for 47 percent of households in Marion County, an increase from 44 percent in 2014. 

The United Way of Marion County helps people struggling financially in several different ways, working with government agencies and nonprofits throughout the community.

For affordable housing, childcare, caregiving assistance and utility bills, you can dial 2-1-1 to connect with more than 2,000 local health and human service programs. Information on how to access food banks and low-cost medical and dental care, as well as counseling, is also available.

The United Way also educates parents thoughts its Strong Families program, which fosters financial stability through education, enhancing life skills and assisting with career development. The initiative connects 80-90 adults and children to personal success coaches each year, and the goal is to provide each family with the guidance needed to graduate successfully.

The Central Florida Community Action Agency provides a boost to help pay electric bills. Income criteria must be met, and the most that someone can receive assistance is once a year. The maximum amount an applicant can receive for an energy bill is $300, and up to $600 is available to those receiving a disconnect notice.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and First Step Food Bank in Ocala (one of the United Way’s funded agencies) merged last fall to help distribute more food throughout the county. “The merger will help keep food flowing to 41 agencies,” the organization announced via Facebook.

Where to find help with your bills and other concerns:

United Way of Marion County: Call 2-1-1 or visit uwmc.org

ALICE: unitedforalice.org/florida

The Central Florida Community Action Agency: cfcaa.org

First Step Food Bank: facebook.com/firststepfoodbank

Second Harvest Food Bank: feedhopenow.org