United Way urges county to use ALICE ZIP‑code data and 2‑1‑1 to better reach working families

SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. — Catherine Abeda, executive director of San Juan United Way, told the county commission Dec. 15 that ALICE — which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — data provide ZIP‑code‑level information that can help the county identify households that earn above the federal poverty line yet struggle to meet basic needs.

Abeda said the ALICE dataset gives local granularity that other measures do not and highlighted 2‑1‑1, the United Way’s referral line, as a key front door for residents seeking help. She described how the 2‑1‑1 team responded during the federal shutdown and the COVID‑era service surge, noting the service logged calls from furloughed federal employees and others who did not previously seek help.

“These are working families,” Abeda said. “They earn above the federal poverty line, but they struggle to meet their basic needs.” She urged county leaders to consider revising eligibility standards where local discretion allows and to accept annual ALICE updates to inform advocacy and local program adjustments.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the ALICE methodology and how local partners can use the data; Abeda offered to provide ZIP‑code and legislative‑district profiles and said the ALICE tools are publicly available online. The presentation emphasized transportation barriers, food insecurity patterns across chapter houses and the role of school partnerships and local nonprofits in reaching people who do not or cannot access centralized distributions.

No formal action was taken; Abeda said United Way will continue to provide updates and work with county staff and community partners.