28 Percent of County Residents Don't Make Enough to Provide for Their Families

According to a new report by the United Way, 28 percent of Middlesex County residents are not in poverty, but still not making enough money to meet the needs of their families.

An Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE household is considered one that is above the poverty level, but below a basic cost of living threshold, according to the report.

In New Jersey in 2010, the annual Household Survival Budget for a family of four was considered to be $58,500 and $25,368 for a single adult.

"ALICE is someone you meet everyday. She/he is someone you depend on to
care for your kids, fix your car, and tend to your elderly relative," said John B. Franklin, CEO of the United Way of Northern New Jersey. "Despite working, often at more than one job, ALICE earns far too little for a sustainable lifestyle. No matter how hard these individuals work, they’re not going to make it and their kids, your neighbors, and our community will pay the price in the long run."

According to the report, there are 769,900 ALICE households in New
Jersey, and 312,762 households were deemed to be living below the poverty line.

Middlesex County is tied with Monmouth, Morris and Union Counties in terms of houses not making enough money, all with 28 percent.

The highest number of working poor and living in poverty households were found in Cumberland, Cape May, Essex and Ocean counties, according to the report.

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