It’s evident that the road to housing equity is filled with challenges. Low-income renters are facing soaring rents and mounting housing instability, especially as the supports from pandemic-era benefit programs dwindle away. For too many, safe, stable, and affordable housing still remains frustratingly out of reach.

There's a crucial aspect we cannot ignore: our county's diversity. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) make up about a quarter of our community. Yet, we also recognize that housing affordability is not experienced equally by all our residents. Inequitable housing policies, discriminatory practices, and systemic barriers contribute to housing affordability challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Traditional economic measures don't fully account for essential expenses. United For ALICE offers county-specific budgets for different household types in Pennsylvania to more accurately assess living costs. These budgets establish the minimum expenses required to sustain a household in today's economy and determine if households are above or below the ALICE Threshold for each county.

On a national level, the 2023 Out of Reach Report shows that the gap between how much people earn and how much they have to pay for housing is biggest for people of color, especially women of color. Why is that? Well, it's because of a history of unfair housing policies that have made it harder for people of color to find decent and affordable homes.

Let's reflect on the findings of the Out of Reach 2023 report, published by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). The report unveils a concerning reality: the significant disparity between people's wages and the cost of modest rental housing across the United States. This comprehensive report dissects the affordability crisis, examining the affordability gap in every state, county, metropolitan area and combined non-metropolitan area.

In Chester County, PA, a deeper dive into the numbers reveals some crucial insights. While the largest population of households below the ALICE Threshold (asset-limited, Income Constrained, Employed) often corresponds with larger demographic groups, it's essential to look beyond the surface. When we examine the proportion of each group facing financial challenges, disparities become evident.

According to official measures, 12% of households in Pennsylvania (equivalent to 636,093 households) were considered to be in poverty in 2021 based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). However, ALICE data tells a different story. An additional 27% (1.4 million households) fall into the ALICE category - Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are families and individuals who earn above the poverty line but still can't make ends meet in their communities.

As a community, we possess the power to create positive change. This year, our theme for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2023 is "Home for Every Heart". Our campaign will shed light on two crucial aspects of our work: the importance of supporting both the development of affordable housing, and amplifying the voices of those with lived experience.