ALICE data illuminates financial struggles in Sullivan County

KINGSPORT — Nearly four out of every 10 households in Sullivan County struggle to afford basic living costs, according to data released by the United Way. This data comes from the latest ALICE report, which was publicly released by the United Way on June 10 but reflects data up to 2024. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed households — which represents households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living for the county. Research on ALICE started as a pilot project in Morris County, New Jersey, 17 years ago. According to the United for ALICE website, it started as a way to understand the struggle of families in that specific county, but grew to become something much more. Two-thirds of the U.S. now participate in the ongoing research efforts to help provide a clearer understanding of how financial hardship impacts most populations in some way. According to this report, 71,326 households are shown in Sullivan County with a population of 162,703 as of 2024. Of those households, 16,796 (24%) were considered ALICE households and 10,352 (15%) were noted as households in poverty at the time. That makes 27,148 (39%) Sullivan County households that were considered in poverty or at the ALICE threshold during that year. Josh Mullins, who recently came on board as the United Way of Greater Kingsport executive director, shed some light on the county-specific data. "Taking a look at ALICE data is important because it reveals how many working households in Kingsport and Sullivan County are struggling to afford basic needs, even if they are above the poverty line," he said. "It shows that nearly 40% of our neighbors face financial instability." By getting the data out there, he said leaders and community members can better understand the true scope of needs, leading to informed decision-making that supports long-term stability for local families. Breaking it down Tennessee had a 28% average ALICE households rate and 14% average households in poverty rate. Sullivan County, for 2024, was slightly above the state's average households in poverty rate and below the ALICE households rate. From 2023 to 2024, Sullivan County saw an increase of 1,019 poverty households and a decrease of 4,258 ALICE households. Mullins said one major theme of the data is just how widespread financial instability is within the county, as well as its ability to impact all demographics. "The most recent data shows significant progress for families compared to the previous release, with the percentage of households below the ALICE threshold in Sullivan County decreasing from 45% to 39%. This shows us that thousands of families have moved closer to financial stability over that period. At the same time, the data makes it clear that a significant portion of our neighbors still face ongoing challenges, reinforcing the need for continued support and collaboration." United Way's ALICE report showed that Black and Hispanic households were the most disproportionately impacted of any race/ethnicity in the county. For Black households, 539 were above the ALICE threshold, while 653 met the ALICE criteria and 302 households were considered in poverty. Hispanic households had 662 above the ALICE threshold, 653 were at the ALICE threshold and 93 households were considered in poverty. Seventy-five percent of single female-headed households with children in Sullivan County were below the ALICE threshold in 2024. This marked the highest percentage of any household type, with single male-headed households with children trailing at 58% of those households falling below the ALICE threshold. The report also gives a Household Survival Budget, which shows the minimum cost of household necessities like housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare and technology. The breakdown is county-specific and is adjusted for various household compositions. The 2024 data showed that a single adult would need to have an annual income of $27,624 to survive, whereas a family of four (two adults, two in child care) would need around $74,220 to function. Looking ahead Mullins said UWGK plans to use the ALICE data to make sure resources are directed to where they are most needed. "The data will guide our partnerships, our programs, and our investments to help families access essentials, maintain stability, and build toward long-term success," he said. "United Way of Greater Kingsport helps serve ALICE households by connecting families to resources that prevent temporary challenges from becoming long-term crises." As the data revealed, expenses covering housing, childcare and healthcare can add up quickly, causing financial burden. But UWGK looks to alleviate some of those stressors in any way it can. In 2025, UWGK allocated more $1.5 million to member agency programs, community initiatives and grants. Through last year's campaign, UWGK reported partnering with 27 member agencies and funding 33 programs that positively impacted around 25,000 individuals in Sullivan County. Some of those agencies include the Kingsport Child Development Center, Oasis of Kingsport, Salvation Army, Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency, Family Promise of Greater Kingsport, Appalachian Miles for Smiles, Friends in Need and the First Tennessee Human Resource Agency. "Through partnerships, we support access to essentials like child care, workforce development, and emergency assistance so individuals can stay employed and move toward stability. UWGK also brings the community together, working with local partners to create lasting solutions that strengthen families and expand opportunity for those who need it most." Mullins said he expects the future data will show a likely increase in ALICE households as rising costs for gas, groceries and housing continue to put pressure on families. "Additional challenges, including the broader economic effects of events like Hurricane Helene, may further strain households that were already one unexpected expense away from financial instability," he said. "This makes it even more important for communities to stay proactive, as more families may need support to maintain stability and recover from these compounding pressures." To view the Tennessee ALICE report and accompanying data, visit unitedforalice.org/introducing-ALICE/tennessee.