SURPRISING STUFF
A new study from the United Way shows that about one in three families in Wisconsin is struggling to afford basic expenses.
About 34% of Wisconsin households did not earn enough income to meet their basic needs in 2021. Since 2010, the number of households in Wisconsin that are above the federal poverty line but not making enough to afford basic expenses in the county where they live has gone up 12%, according to research from United Way Wisconsin. The federal poverty level in 2023 meant that a family of four in Wisconsin would need to make less than $30,000 per year to be considered at or below the poverty line. The FPL for a single-person household is $14,580, and $19,720 for a household of two. The latest numbers from 2023 show 24% of households, or 593,843 in the state, identify as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, but Employed.
The study is based on a single person needing $27,636 per year for what it calls a survival budget, which includes housing, childcare, food, transportation, technology, 10% miscellaneous, and taxes. The amount is $77,112 for a family of four with an infant and preschooler in childcare. Those who are paying bills say those budgets are hard to fathom considering the cost of what’s available, especially for housing and childcare.
Approximately 10.7% of households in Wisconsin experienced food insecurity in 2023. Food insecurity means that their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources. This translates to roughly 1 in 10 Wisconsin households struggling to access adequate nutrition. 211 is a free and confidential service that connects you with thousands of local programs and services. 211 is a statewide nonprofit that can help people find assistance with housing, food, utilities, employment, and more.
You can call 2-1-1 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 180 languages. One third of the population of Lake Geneva is about to suffer even more as health and other services are cut back by the federal government and are not likely to be replaced by the State of Wisconsin. Pitch in where and when you can and help. They will love you for any assistance, and so will God.
