COVID AND FINANCIALHARDSHIP IN THE BIG BEND

 The COVID-19 pandemic, a global health and economic crisis, upended life as we knew it three years ago. It claimed the lives of millions and unleashed a torrent of competing economic forces – a phenomenon rarely seen. How did Leon County and our neighboring counties’ most vulnerable ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families fare financially? 

United For ALICE launched its newest Report for Florida and all of its counties including Leon County, and the seven neighboring counties in which United Way of the Big Bend serves: Gadsden, Jefferson, Taylor, Madison, Franklin, Wakulla, and Liberty. “ALICE in the Crosscurrents,” illustrates the impact of these economic forces on struggling households. 

This report presents how the economic forces worked with and against each other throughout the pandemic including job disruption, wage increases, inflation, pandemic assistance, and migration. It explores the impact on households in poverty and ALICE households – earning above the Federal Poverty Level but not nearly enough to afford basics – and the warning signs ahead for our neighbors in Leon County and our neighboring counties.