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Miami-Dade families fall short of basic costs as ALICE households grow
More than 408,000 Miami-Dade households earn above the poverty line but still struggle to afford basic needs, according to United Way Miami. A North Miami-Dade mother recovering from a stroke says rising costs leave her choosing among rent, utilities and medication.
NAOMI Augustin’s monthly bills in northwest Miami-Dade include more than $1,800 for rent, about $300 for electricity and another $300 for groceries. After a stroke left the 39-year-old unable to work as she once did, she says her part-time income of roughly $2,000 to $2,200 a month is not enough to comfortably support herself and her two sons.
“I am pushing myself and it’s still not enough,” Augustin said.
Augustin spent a month in the hospital after suffering a stroke about two years ago. She was left paralyzed from the shoulder down and went on disability. With help from family and friends, physical therapy and medical care, she eventually returned to work part time.
The choices became stark when expenses mounted, she said: whether to pay for medication, rent or the electric bill. She also struggled to afford activities for her older son’s senior year of high school.
Her experience reflects a wider affordability problem identified in United Way Miami’s latest ALICE report. More than 408,000 Miami-Dade households are classified as ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — meaning their earnings exceed the federal poverty level but fall short of what is needed to cover basic expenses. The report says more than 40% of Miami-Dade residents are in that category, and about 40,000 households have been added since the previous report.
For a family of four in Miami-Dade, basic needs cost about $96,000 a year, United Way Miami President and CEO Symeria Hudson said. The average income for a family of four in the ALICE group is about $76,000.
“As the cost of living go up, more people fall into this bucket,” Hudson said.
Women are a significant share of those facing the gap, Hudson said, noting that 84% of the ALICE population are heads of household and that many are women.
Augustin sought help from United Way Miami’s Center for Financial Stability. The nonprofit provided a gift card for medication, rental assistance and a financial coach to help her review expenses and make a longer-term plan.
The support has helped her better understand her finances and identify expenses she may be able to reduce, Augustin said, though her finances remain short of where she wants them to be.
United Way Miami has outlined a five-year plan to invest $36 million in 84 programs, including financial stability services, early education and work with community partners. The organization says a broader effort is needed as more households struggle to meet basic costs.
For Augustin, the figures come down to rebuilding her strength and providing for her sons. “Financially things are not where I want to be,” she said, but working with a financial coach has helped her see where she stands and where she can seek support.