47% of households in county are struggling financially

More households struggle in Manistee County than most neighboring areas

Nearly half of Manistee County’s households — or about 4,666 — are financially struggling. And statewide, the number of people in that category is expected to keep growing. That is according to the U.S. research organization United for ALICE which looks at numbers of households that are considered asset limited, income constrained and employed.

Meet ALICE

ALICE as households are listed by United for ALICE as a household where people earn “just above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to make ends meet.”

Manistee County has a 36% ALICE household rate paired with 11% poverty, making 47% of households in the county below the ALICE threshold. In Manistee County, Cleon and Springdale townships had the highest percentage of households under the ALICE threshold at 66% and 59%, respectively.

People below the ALICE line are impacted in their daily lives. United Way and other local organizations team up to help people access resources and guidance. This can be rent, utilities, child care, food, transportation and health care costs.

The 2024 ALICE in the Crosscurrents Update report notes a consistent trend of more Michigan households that are struggling financially, often ineligible for public assistance and undercounted by official measures.

"(This) represents a major vulnerability in our economic system,” the update said. “It also suggests that overall social and economic policies are falling short in addressing the root causes of financial instability. ”The number of Michigan’s ALICE households has increased by 20% from 2010 to 2022 in what the report calls a clear trend.

The report also points out that ALICE households are less prepared for crises, emergency savings and retirement. 

The Federal Reserve Board’s 2022 Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking shows 63% of ALICE households did not have emergency savings to cover expenses for three months. Sixty-seven percent of households above the ALICE level did have emergency funds for three months.

People 65 and older accounted for the most substantial increase in ALICE households in Michigan, the survey showed. In 2022, 51% of the age group’s households were below the ALICE threshold in the state. Manistee County had 52% of the 65 and older group considered below ALICE levels.

Contextual comparisons

Funding is based on a combination of factors including poverty, ALICE rates and unemployment. Of the 9,927 households in Manistee County, 36% fall under ALICE definitions compared to the state’s average of 26%.

This is higher than all other neighboring counties except Lake County. Lake and Clare counties tied for the worst in the state at 58% under the ALICE threshold. Lake and Clare counties have 40% ALICE and 18% poverty households. Manistee County has a lower poverty average than the state at 11% compared to Michigan’s 13%. Within Manistee County, ALICE percentages range from 34% in Arcadia Township to 66% in Cleon Township. 

According to a statewide update, the most common Michigan workers who were likely to be under the ALICE threshold had median hourly wages ranging from  $13.74 to $17.37. Personal care aides led the list with 52% under the ALICE threshold, followed by cooks (49%), fast food and counter workers (49%), wait staff (46%), cashiers (46%) and nursing assistants (41%).

On the other side of the list are the workers who were least likely to be under the ALICE threshold: software developers, elementary and middle school teachers, registered nurses, and sales representatives in wholesale and manufacturing. 

Those categories had median hourly wages ranging from $30.20 to $48.59. 

ALICE: Asset limited, income constrained, employed

Manistee County areas and the percentage of households below the Alice threshold, per the latest 2022 data.

Cleon Township — 66%

Springdale Township — 59%    

Maple Grove Township — 56%

Dickson Township — 53%

Marilla Township — 51%

Brown Township — 48%

City of Manistee — 48%

Norman township — 48%    

Manistee township — 47%

Onekama Township — 43%    

Pleasanton Township — 42%    

Bear Lake Township — 41%

Filer charter Township — 40%

Stronach Township — 36%

Arcadia Township — 34%

Original article can be found here: https://www.manisteenews.com/news/article/manistee-county-households-financial-struggle-19983350.php