Outline (60 minutes) - standard opening (2 min) (Tanya) - introduction of the podcast - Jerry - why am I doing this
What is Project 2026? (from AI searching for Lansing area ALICE data highlights) In the Lansing area, the **ALICE** (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data paints a picture of a "working poor" population that earns above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) but cannot afford a basic "Survival Budget." According to the **2025 United Way ALICE Report** (which utilizes data through 2023/2024), the financial landscape for Lansing and Ingham County is more challenging than the state average. ### **The Lansing Profile (2025 Data Update)** While 14% of Michigan households live in poverty, the Lansing area sees significantly higher rates of financial instability due to the high cost of essentials relative to local wages. * **Lansing (City):** Approximately **50%** of households fall below the ALICE Threshold (combined poverty and ALICE households). * **Regional Average:** Across the six-county region (Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, etc.), **41%** of households struggle to meet basic needs. * **Ingham County:** Historically maintains a high threshold due to the concentration of service-sector jobs and student populations. --- ### **The "Survival Budget" vs. The Poverty Line** The United Way calculates a **Household Survival Budget**, which is the bare-minimum cost to live and work in the modern economy (housing, childcare, food, transportation, health care, technology, and taxes). | Household Type | Annual Survival Budget (MI Avg) | Hourly Wage Needed (Full-Time) | | --- | --- | --- | | **Single Adult** | ~$28,740 | ~$14.37/hr | | **Family of Four** | ~$69,900 | ~$34.95/hr (combined) | *Note: In higher-cost counties like Ingham, these figures are often slightly higher. For a family of four to be considered "Financially Stable" (including savings), the budget jumps to over **$100,000** annually.* --- ### **Demographic Disparities** The data reveals that financial hardship is not distributed evenly across the Lansing area: * **Single-Female-Headed Households:** **74%** live below the ALICE threshold. * **Young Adults (Under 25):** **72%** struggle to reach the threshold, often due to entry-level wages and student debt. * **Seniors (65+):** **49%** live below the threshold as fixed incomes fail to keep pace with inflation in healthcare and housing. * **Race:** **61%** of Black households and **46%** of Hispanic households in the region live below the threshold, compared to 38% of White households. ### **The "Cliff Effect"** A critical takeaway from the United Way’s report for Lansing residents is the **Cliff Effect**. Many ALICE households earn "too much" to qualify for public assistance (like SNAP or childcare subsidies) but "too little" to actually afford those services on the open market, leaving them in a cycle of perpetual financial vulnerability.