At Fred’s Footsteps we serve the ALICE community:
People who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.
These are people working hard to make ends meet. They earn too much money to qualify for government assistance, earning just above the Federal Poverty Level, yet barely enough to provide even basic necessities for their families.
They are essential members of our workforce: retail and hospitality workers, childcare and home healthcare providers. These struggling households are forced to make impossible choices each day. While such hardship is pervasive, households of color are disproportionately ALICE.
Add a seriously ill, injured, or disabled child to this delicate balancing act, and a financial crisis is inevitable.
That is why our work in the community is so imperative. Fred’s Footsteps provides a funding bridge to these families who need it the most. We recognize that there are no quick fixes, and many families need continued support as they go through the ups and downs of their child’s illness. We work to provide emergency funding that will sustain a family through their child’s medical crisis, not just momentary help. Our program is structured for a period of one year. We also act as an advocate for our families, linking them to other supports and organizations that may be able to provide further assistance.
According to a 2018 study by the United Way and United for Alice, if you combine PA households earning below the ALICE Threshold with those living below the FPL, 39% of PA households face financial hardship every day, in every county in PA – a statistic that has undoubtedly been exacerbated by the pandemic. See the 2021 COVID Impact Story to learn more.
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