Hidden Financial Struggles Facing NC Families

When most people hear the word “poverty,” they think they understand who is struggling financially. But a recent conversation on Charlotte Talks with WFAE challenged that assumption.

United Way of Greater Charlotte’s Senior Vice President and Chief Impact Officer, Jamese Ivy, joined economist Stephanie Hoopes of United For ALICE and UNC Charlotte economics professor Matthew Metzgar to discuss a new report that paints a more complete picture of financial hardship across North Carolina.

The discussion centered on ALICE, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are households that earn above the federal poverty level but still cannot consistently afford the basics needed to live and work.

According to the latest data, 13% of North Carolina households were living in poverty in 2024. An additional 28% were ALICE households, bringing the total number of households struggling to afford basic necessities to 41%.

The Story Behind the Numbers

During the conversation, Jamese emphasized a reality that United Way of Greater Charlotte sees every day through its work with residents, nonprofits, and community partners.

Many families are working. In many cases, they are working multiple jobs. Yet rising costs for housing, child care, food, transportation, and health care continue to outpace wages.

These are not isolated challenges affecting a small group of people. They are realities impacting workers who care for our children, staff our hospitals, prepare our food, support local businesses, and keep our communities running.

The ALICE data helps put numbers behind stories that many families have been living for years.

Why This Matters for Greater Charlotte

For United Way of Greater Charlotte, the findings reinforce what residents have shared throughout Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Union, and Anson counties.

Financial hardship is often hidden.

Many families do not qualify for assistance programs because their income is technically above the poverty line. Yet they still face difficult choices every month about rent, groceries, transportation, child care, and unexpected expenses.

The conversation on Charlotte Talks highlighted the importance of looking beyond traditional poverty measures to better understand the true cost of living in our communities.

From Awareness to Action

One of the most important takeaways from the discussion was that data alone does not create change. Action does.

At United Way of Greater Charlotte, that means investing in nonprofit partners, supporting emergency assistance efforts, strengthening neighborhood-based solutions, and working alongside residents to address both immediate needs and long-term barriers to economic stability.

The ALICE data is more than a report. It is a tool that helps communities understand where support is needed and how resources can be aligned to create greater opportunity.

Continuing the Conversation

The Charlotte Talks discussion served as an important reminder that financial stability is becoming increasingly difficult for many working families.

When nearly four in ten North Carolina households are unable to consistently afford basic necessities, the challenge is bigger than any one family, organization, or sector can solve alone.

But by listening to residents, understanding the data, and working together across our community, we can build solutions that help families not only get by, but thrive.

We are grateful to WFAE and Charlotte Talks for creating space for this important conversation and to Jamese Ivy for helping bring greater awareness to the realities facing ALICE households across North Carolina.