Harlan Kirgan
Fifty-seven percent of the 30,302 households in St. Landry Parish cannot afford basic needs, according to a study released by United Way.
ALICE study reported on the ability of households to meet needs such as housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology in 2016.
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The research “places a spotlight on a large population of hardworking residents who work at low-paying jobs, have little or no savings, and are one emergency from falling into poverty.”
The 57 percent figure includes households in poverty and those meeting the ALICE income point.
In the state, 48 percent of households — 828,255 — are unable to pay for basic needs.
In Evangeline Parish, the ALICE percentage is 55 and in Acadia Parish it is 47.
Sarah Berthelot, president/CEO of Louisiana Association of United Ways, said in news release, “There are so many Louisiana families walking their personal economic tight ropes with courage, grit and hope.”
Berthelot added, “However, without the ability to get ahead, they are vulnerable — one set back, one illness, one natural disaster or even one car repair can take away any and all security ALICE has worked to sustain. Until the arrival of the ALICE Project in Louisiana, these hardworking Louisianans were an invisible group.”
In St. Landry Parish, a survival budget for a single person is $17,064. For a family of two adults, one infant and one pre-schooler, the survival household budget is $50,904.
By municipality in St. Landry Parish the ALICE and poverty percentages in 2016 were: Arnaudville, 442 households, 51 percent; Cankton, 236 households, 51 percent; Eunice, 3,814 households, 60 percent; Grand Coteau, 355 households, 65 percent; Krotz Springs, 432 households, 79 percent; Lawtell, 544 households, 60 percent; Leonville, 297 households, 69 percent; Melville, 455 households, 81 percent; Opelousas, 6,192 households, 72 percent; Port Barre, 725 households, 72 percent; Sunset, 1,046 households, 52 percent; and Washington, 342 households, 67 percent.
There were 30,302 households in St. Landry Parish with a population of 83,883 in 2016. The median household income was $31,207 compared to $45,146 state average — a $13,939 annual or $268 a week difference.
“The Household Survival Budget reflects the bare minimum that a household needs to live and work today,” the report stated. “It does not includes savings for emergencies or future goals like college. In 2016, costs were well above the Federal Poverty Level of $11,880 for a single adult and $24,300 for a family of four. Family costs increased by 33 percent statewide from 2010 to 2016, compared to 9 percent inflation nationally.”
In Acadia Parish, there were 22,655 households and a population of 62,372. The median household income was $39,837 compared to a state average of $45,146 — a $5,309 annual and $102 weekly difference.
By municipality in St. Acadia Parish the ALICE and poverty percentages in 2016 were: Church Point, 1,785 households, 62 percent; Crowley, 4,978 households, 60 percent; Egan, 281 households, 75 percent; Estherwood, 313 households, 45 percent; Iota, 687 households, 46 percent; Mermentau, 268 households, 59 percent; Morse, 325 households, 42 percent; and Rayne, 2,926 households, 52 percent.
In Evangeline Parish, there were 11,871 households with a population of 33,765. The median household income was $30,724 compared to the state average of $45,146 — a $14,422 annual and $277 weekly difference.
By municipality in Evangeline Parish the ALICE and poverty percentages in 2016 were: Basile, 525 households, 62 percent; Chataignier, 126 households, 68 percent; Mamou, 943 households, 63 percent; Pine Prairie, 310 households, 52 percent; Reddell, 328 households, 44 percent; Turkey Creek, 129 households, 53 percent; and Ville Platte, 3,086 households, 76 percent.
Other highlights in the 240-page report include:
— As per the update, 48 percent of households struggle to afford the basic necessities and live below the ALICE Threshold — Nearly one in three (29 percent) of Louisiana households are ALICE and 19 percent live in poverty. The 2016 data increases the number of ALICE household by 6 percent while the percentage of poverty remains flat at 19 percent. This percentage represents 105,178 more ALICE households struggling to make ends meet throughout the state.
— Households living below the ALICE Threshold make up between 27 percent and 75 percent of the population in every parish in Louisiana. (These households earn above the poverty level but below the Household Survival Budget.) Childcare, representing a Louisiana family’s greatest expense, averaged $996 per month for two children in licensed and accredited childcare.
— The average Household Survival Budget (calculation created for the ALICE report) for a Louisiana family of four increased to $53,988 — significantly higher than the federally recognized family poverty level of $24,300. (Single Household Survival Budget is $19,548 with the poverty level set at $11,880.)
— Childcare, representing a Louisiana family’s greatest expense, averaged $996 per month for two children in licensed and accredited childcare — a $302 increase since our 2014 ALICE update, which reported an average cost of $694 for quality childcare for two children. As of this year, technology expenses (smart phones) are included in the ALICE survival budget. This expense was not included in previous ALICE budget calculations.
For all Louisiana ALICE data, visit launitedway.org/ALICE.