43% in city struggle to make ends meet
NORWALK — What happens when a family can’t afford groceries, but doesn’t qualify for food stamps because their income is too high? Or when a person can afford rent, but doesn’t have enough in their savings for a security deposit?
This gray area between poverty and being financially stable is a demographic known as ALICE: Asset-limited, income restricted, employed. And it’s a financial area at least 27 percent of families in Con
necticut live in, according to the 2020 ALICE report released by United Way of Connecticut.
The United Way of Coastal Connecticut additionally found that 43 percent of Norwalk’s 33,923 households are either living in poverty or are considered ALICE households.
“You have people living below poverty line and really struggling, but it’s just as common to have folks in that ALICE range,” said Lauren Mallet, one of the founders of Norwalk Mutual Aid.
Norwalk Mutual Aid is a grassroots organization dedicated to helping families in the community in need. Mallet said they help many families who hit the ALICE threshold.
“They’re making money but not enough to qualify for benefits,” she said. “I’ve had several people tell me, ‘This year I made $100 over the limit so I lost my Husky insurance or lost housing assistance.’ They feel if another straw breaks they could be homeless or have to leave Norwalk in particular; or if the cost of thing go up a hair, they’ll have to leave Norwalk.’ ”
United Way has been releasing ALICE reports since 2014 to highlight how many people have income which falls below what is needed to pay for basic necessities such as housing, food, child care, health care, technology and transportation, but above poverty levels. The United Way of Coastal Connecticut’s 2020 report estimates a single adult needs to make $36,276 annually to survive while a family of two adults and two children needs $114,576.
ALICE families make less than this, but more than the federal poverty level of $12,140 for a single person and $25,100 for a family of four.
“We weren’t surprised,” said Norwalk’s Chief of Community Services Lamond Daniels of the report data. “If this is the number, this is the number. The mayor’s commitment is trying to serve all residents, looking at our most fragile and looking at these families in the gray line in terms of what role can municipality serve ... to help these families thrive.”
Mallet said this is a huge problem across Fairfield
County. Other communities like Stamford and Greenwich also reported about 29 to 43 percent of residents struggle financially to get by.
The city made an effort last year to improve this problem by creating the new Community Services Department to help Norwalkers who were otherwise going to Bridgeport or Stamford for resources. The department was created to fill the place of state services once available in Norwalk but since closed.
The city also hired Daniels as Chief of Community Services to oversee the health department, human relations and fair rent, human services, the library, early childhood and youth services and act as a liaison between residents and state agencies which could assist them.
On Sept. 14, Maria Escalera joined the city as Director of Human Services,
a new position where she will collaborate with nonprofit an health care providers and lead the early childhood and youth services department. Escalera came from the Norwalk Community Health Center where she previously served as the chief operating officer.
Daniels and Escalera are working to connect residents with nonprofit groups that can offer aid, especially ALICE residents who might not know they can receive additional resources or residents who recently fell on hard times due to COVID-19.
“It’s listening to what are the needs, bringing people to the table, talking about how can we do this together and making sure members of the community know these resources exist,” Daniels said. “The goal of community services is making sure we educate and are getting the word out . ... The ultimate goal is we want all families to thrive and be successful . ... We don’t want a family to have to say do I pay my rent or purchase food? That’s not Connecticut. That’s not America.”
This year, the Community Services Department ramped up their food delivery program amid COVID-19, and worked with food pantries to help them find families in need. From there, through philanthropic support and private donation, they were able to bring food to any family in need, regardless of income.
Daniels added many ALICE families struggle with shame and embarrassment — since they don’t meet federal poverty guidelines, many think they shouldn’t be receiving aid. Part of the Community Services Department’s work is getting over that hump and rethinking how to offer services in a way that’s welcoming, he said.
“Language is a big key to really engage families so when they walk in the door, they feel just as comfortable,” Daniels said.
In the future, Norwalk hopes to launch a community resource hub for all residents to use. But in the long term, Daniels said the priority is to work with local legislators to advocate toward adjusting the income limit on certain types of aid.
“The income limits are there to serve a subset of the population, but I think what’s important is ... really raising the issue,” Daniels said. “We know the trends and patterns and know what people are eligible or not. It’s important to become that voice and really advocate on behalf of residents.”