Whitman County rates highest percent of working poor

Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor | Jul 09, 20200

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WHITMAN COUNTY – A recent study shows Whitman County with the highest rate of ALICE–formerly known as "working poor"–households in Washington state. According to the study released by United Way of the Pacific Northwest, 52% of households in Whitman County are below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold. That includes 27% of households in poverty, nearly triple the state average of 10%.

The report is based off of 2018 data.

ALICE families are are those who are above the federal poverty level, but don't earn enough to afford basic household necessities, the report states. Households below the ALICE threshold include those below the poverty level.

According to the report, the highest percent of households below ALICE threshold are in the 99149 zip code which serves Malden. Pullman's 99163 zip code comes in with 59% and Endicott's 99125 is close behind at 53%. The lowest percentage came from Uniontown's 99179 at 22%.

United Way hosted a roll out of the data in June, noting that, while unintended, the time of the roll out with current world events only highlights the necessity and plight of ALICE families.

"(ALICE workers) are one broken down car or appliance away from possibly not being able to feed their family," said Jim Cooper, United Way of Pacific Northwest president. "COVID is that times 10."

COVID not only exposed the impending financial guillotine these families face, but also how essential they are.

"It's very clear that Washington relies on ALICE," said Dona Ponepinto, president of United Way of Tacoma and founder of the ALICE report for the Pacific Northwest. She noted that ALICE workers include teachers, store stockers and manufacturers.

According the report, a family of four with two children in child care have a survival budget of $71,280. If there were only one income earner, that person would need to make $35.64 full time to cover all the costs. Top costs listed in the report for a family of four were $1,601 for child care, $970 for food, $815 for transportation and $760 for housing.

The household type with the highest percent below ALICE threshold is single or co-habitating.

When asked about university students' affect on the countywide numbers, Cooper told the Gazette students living in dorms were not included, only those in off-campus housing.

"Most of the students who live off campus are captured in the 'Under 25' age group. Of all households below the ALICE Threshold in Whitman County, 26% are headed by someone under 25," he said.

The study also stated there were 32.2% of the county population not in the labor force. This includes gig workers, retired, those on disability and students.

One of the positives for the county was the percent with internet access. Whitman County was 84.3% while neighboring Adams County had the lowest in the state with 66.7%.

At the roll out presentation, former Spokane Mayor David Condon talked about how the data can be used to influence policy in municipalities.

"Here at United Way of Whitman County, we will be spending the remainder of the month diving into the details of the ALICE report and then sharing it with our community partners. From those community conversations, we hope that we can create an ALICE task force to tackle the underlying issues that would prevent someone from achieving the high quality of life that we strive for in Whitman County," said United Way of Whitman County Executive Director Eric Fejeran.

While the number of households in poverty statewide has stayed relatively flat from 2007 to 2018, the number of ALICE households has continued to increase as a result of rising costs and stagnant wages.