A New Pilot Program for 2026–27
United for ALICE is a national United Way initiative that uses research and data to better understand and support working households struggling to afford basic needs. The program has been successfully used in communities across the country to identify financial challenges and develop practical solutions that help families become more stable.
United Way Rock River Valley is launching a new pilot program to help working families meet the basic needs that stand between them and stability. This is a data driven decision. Here's how we got there...
What Our 211 Data Told Us
United Way Rock River Valley funds the 211 information line for Winnebago County. When people dial 2-1-1 or visit il211.org, they get free, confidential help finding local resources for food, housing, utility assistance, healthcare, mental health support, and more.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, our community made 3,833+ calls and texts to 211. Every one of those contacts is logged, and that data is now driving where we invest next.
5,821 Needs Identified
(07/01/2025–06/30/2026)
|
Need |
Number of Needs |
% of Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Housing & Shelter |
2,679 |
46% |
|
Utilities |
714 |
12% |
|
Food & Meals |
306 |
5% |
|
Transportation |
304 |
5% |
This Data Raised Two Questions
- Do children struggle with reading because their families are struggling to meet basic needs?
- Can alleviating the stresses on parents free up even a little more time and mental energy for reading together at home?
Unmet basic needs aren't separate from literacy. They're barriers to it. If our goal is third-grade reading proficiency, we have to understand and reduce the conditions that make learning harder in the first place.
This Is Where Our Next Investment Begins: Meet ALICE
Stable Families Help Children Thrive
Meeting basic needs helps children show up ready to learn and succeed.
What ALICE Stands For
Asset Limited
Little to no savings to fall back on when something goes wrong.
Income Constrained
Earning above the Federal Poverty Level, but below the true cost of living.
Employed
Working, and often in the jobs that keep our community running.
Across Winnebago County, 41% of households fall below the ALICE threshold and struggle to afford the basics. When parents are forced to choose between paying the electric bill, repairing a vehicle, or buying groceries, that pressure doesn't stay contained. It shows up at home, in school attendance, and in the quiet moments when families could otherwise be reading together.
The Numbers Behind ALICE in Winnebago County
The map shows where households below the ALICE threshold are concentrated across Illinois, with Winnebago County among the counties facing the steepest gap between what families earn and what it actually costs to live here. The table below breaks down exactly what that gap looks like at home.
|
Category |
Households |
% of Total |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Households |
118,061 |
— |
|
Households in Poverty |
18,414 |
15.6% |
|
ALICE Households |
30,003 |
25.4% |
|
Households Above the ALICE Threshold |
69,644 |
59% |
Basic Needs and Literacy Aren't Two Problems. They're Two Symptoms of the Same Instability.
That's why, with a founding investment from Nicor, United Way Rock River Valley is launching a new ALICE pilot: a program to help working families meet the basic needs gaps our 211 data uncovered.
Our goal hasn't changed. We remain committed to raising third-grade reading proficiency. This pilot complements and clears a path for that work. When a family can keep the lights on and the car running, reading practice at home has a chance to happen.
The ALICE pilot aims to remove the barriers that can keep children from reaching their full potential. When families are more stable, children are better positioned to learn.
When children learn to read, our community grows stronger.
United for Literacy, 211, and ALICE All Work Together
When a family calls 211, we learn what help they need. The ALICE program helps families meet basic needs so children can come to school ready to learn. Our literacy work gives kids the reading skills they need to succeed in school and build a more stable future.
When you give to United Way Rock River Valley, your gift supports all of this. One donation helps families today while creating brighter futures for tomorrow.