The 2025 ALICE Report: Shining a Light on the Working Families of North Central Florida
From the Desk of the CEO
United Way North Central Florida
Today, I am honored to announce the release of the 2025 ALICE Update--Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed--a vital snapshot of financial hardship across our communities. This report doesn't just contain statistics. It contains stories. It tells the truth about thousands of families in North Central Florida and throughout the state who work hard, yet still struggle to afford the basics.
For me, this report is deeply personal.
As a child growing up, I remember grocery trips with my mother that came down to choosing between milk or medicine, nights listening to my parents worry about how the bills were going to get paid, and the heavy responsibility at eight-years-old of watching my younger brother every day after school until my mom got home from work because we couldn't afford after-school childcare. My parents were working full-time jobs, doing everything "right," and it still wasn't enough.
That's what ALICE is. ALICE is not a number. ALICE is your child's preschool teacher. Your grocery store cashier. Your home health aid. ALICE is working--and yet still struggling.
In Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties, the 2025 ALICE Update shows that many households are either living below the federal poverty line or are ALICE. These are families who are walking a financial tightrope every single day--unable to save and one unexpected expense away from crisis.
The report paints a sobering picture:
- In Alachua County, despite its urban centers and university presence, 47% of households fall into ALICE or poverty categories.
- In more rural Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties, that number climbs even higher--often over 50% with Dixie topping out at 59%.
- Childcare, housing, transportation, and healthcare costs have all risen faster than wages.
And while inflation touches all of us, its impact on ALICE households is devastating. When the price of groceries goes up, ALICE doesn't just feel the squeeze--they feel the risk of going hungry. When rent increases, ALICE doesn't simply cut back--they face eviction. When a hurricane hits the coastline, ALICE faces losing everything -- homes, vehicles, and jobs.
At United Way North Central Florida, we are committed to using this report not just to inform, but to act. ALICE families are the backbone of our local economy--and they deserve a real chance at stability and mobility. That's why we will continue to support programs that move the needle for ALICE.
But we cannot do it alone.
We call on local governments, businesses, faith-based leaders, and nonprofits to read this report. To see the real people behind the numbers. To imagine a community where no one working full-time still struggles to survive.
To our ALICE families: We see you. We hear you. And we will continue to fight for you.
The full 2025 ALICE Report is available to download. I urge everyone to read it, to explore the data, and to join us in building a stronger, more resilient North Central Florida.
With gratitude and hope,
Amber Miller
President & CEO
United Way North Central Florida