‘The Seawrights represent ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These families and individuals work hard, often more than the 40 hours a week considered to be full-time employment, but still can’t afford what they need for a good quality of life. ALICE families are often a single emergency – an unexpected car repair or a sudden sickness – away from falling into poverty. Nearly 31% of Mississippians fall into this gap, according to the inaugural ALICE report for Mississippi.

‘They’re walking their personal economic tightrope with courage, grit and hope; however, without the ability to get ahead, they are vulnerable,’ said Michele Connelly, executive director of the United Way of West Central Mississippi and co-chair of the Mississippi ALICE Project Steering Committee.

Connelly said ALICE families live their entire lives a hair’s breadth away from economic ruin.’