Making Choices

You are about to put yourself in the shoes of a typical ALICE family.

Who is ALICE?

ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE families are those that have earnings above the Federal Poverty Level, but below a basic cost-of-living threshold. In other words, they are working around the clock to make ends meet.


46% of Arkansans are ALICE. You see ALICE every day, in the workers who have been essential to keeping our community running during the pandemic: grocery store employees, certified nursing assistants, childcare and restaurant workers. 


When ALICE suffers and is forced to make difficult choices, we are all impacted. For the next few minutes, you'll experience some of the tough choices that ALICE households have to make every single day

How It Works

Below, you'll choose which experience you'd like to explore: that of a family with 2 parents and 2 children, or a single senior on a fixed income. You'll navigate a household budget for each, making choices about how to spend your monthly budget credits.


As you explore the choices that ALICE individuals and families make, you may find this experience familiar. You may have grown up as ALICE, or spent early career years as ALICE. You may have friends, family members, or employees who are ALICE


We invite you to thoughtfully consider these experiences as you explore ALICE.

Select One

Family of 4

YOUR MONTHLY INCOME COMES IN THE FORM OF 15 CREDITS

Single Senior

YOUR MONTHLY INCOME COMES IN THE FORM OF 12 CREDITS

Two Parents, Two Kids
HOUSING - SELECT ONE

HEALTH CARE - SELECT ONE


FOOD PER PERSON - SELECT ONE

TRANSPORTATION - SELECT ONE

TECHNOLOGY ACCESS - SELECT ONE


CHILD CARE - CHOOSE ONE

EMERGENCY EXPENSE!
Emergency Expense: Your youngest has a strep throat and must see the doctor. 1 credit taken away from lost wages from time off to take care of her.

UTILITIES - CHOOSE ONE

MISCELLANEOUS - CHOOSE ONE
It's your oldest child's birthday. For thier gift:

Remaining Credits

Housing1


Housing2


Housing3


Health1


Healthcare2


Healthcare3


Food1


Food2


Food3


Transportation1


transportation2


transportation3

 

technology1


technology2


Technology 3 Credits


Childcare 1 Credit


childcare2


Childcare3


emergency - 1 credit


Utility1


Utility2


Utility3

 

Spending1


Spending2


Spending3


15

You are OUT OF CREDITS!

Senior Fixed Income
HOUSING - SELECT ONE

HEALTH CARE - SELECT ONE


FOOD PER PERSON - SELECT ONE

TRANSPORTATION - SELECT ONE

TECHNOLOGY ACCESS - SELECT ONE

EMERGENCY EXPENSE!
Emergency Expense: You have fallen in your home and need to go to the emergency room to be checked out.

UTILITIES - CHOOSE ONE

SPENDING MONEY - CHOOSE ONE

Remaining Credits

Senior Housing 1 credit


Housing2


Housing3


Health1


Healthcare2


Healthcare3


Food1


Food2


Food3


Transportation1


transportation2


transportation3

 

technology1


technology2


Technology 3 Credits


emergency - 1 credit


Utility1


Utility2


Utility3

 

Spending1


Spending2


Spending3


12

You are OUT OF CREDITS!