La Porte County, IN – United Way of La Porte County today released new data from the 2025 ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), revealing persistent financial hardship among working households across our region. The data show that nearly 48% of La Porte County households are either below the Federal Poverty Level or qualify as ALICE, individuals and families who earn above the poverty level but still cannot afford the basics.

“This report is a wake-up call and a reaffirmation of what many in our community already know: far too many of our neighbors are working hard yet falling short,” said Kris Pate, President and CEO of United Way of La Porte County. “ALICE is the engine of our local economy—our childcare workers, home health aides, retail clerks, and many others—yet their wages haven’t kept pace with the cost of living.”

Key Findings in La Porte County:

• 48% of households are either in poverty or ALICE (up from 46% in the previous report).
• The highest concentration of ALICE and poverty-level households is in Michigan City (46360), where 61% of households fall into one of those categories.
• La Porte (46350) shows 45% of households struggling to make ends meet, while Westville (46391), though lower, still reports 37%.
• The Household Survival Budget for a family of four in La Porte County is $77,064—far higher than what many working households bring in annually.

Comparison to Indiana Statewide Trends:
Across Indiana, 39% of households fall into ALICE or poverty, which means La Porte County's 48% is significantly higher than the state average. Despite the state's economic recovery post-pandemic, the financial strain on ALICE households has intensified, especially due to rising costs in housing, childcare, and healthcare.

The statewide report also highlights that ALICE households are disproportionately people of color, older adults, and those with disabilities—trends mirrored here in La Porte County.

Call to Action:
“These findings underscore the urgent need for community collaboration,” Pate emphasized. “Nonprofits, government, businesses, and individuals must come together to address the barriers ALICE households face—from affordable housing to living wages.”

United Way of La Porte County is committed to using this data to drive solutions. We will continue to invest in programs that expand access to education, job training, financial literacy, and basic needs support.

“ALICE is not a statistic. ALICE is our neighbor, our co-worker, our friend,” said Pate. “This is our call to build a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

To read the full reports and learn how you can help, visit
https://www.unitedwaylpc.org/about#news and UnitedForALICE.org.

About United Way of La Porte County
United Way of La Porte County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. Through partnerships, advocacy, and targeted funding, we help create sustainable solutions to the most pressing issues facing our county.

About United For ALICE  
United For ALICE is a U.S. research organization driving innovation, research and action to improve life across the country for ALICE ® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and for all. Through the development of the ALICE measurements, a comprehensive, unbiased picture of financial hardship has emerged. Harnessing this data and research on the mismatch between low-paying jobs and the cost of survival, ALICE partners convene, advocate and collaborate on solutions that promote financial stability at local, state and national levels. This grassroots ALICE movement, led by United Way of Northern New Jersey, has spread to 31 states and the District of Columbia and includes United Ways, corporations, nonprofits and foundations in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin; we are United For ALICE. For more information, visit: UnitedForALICE.org.