More than getting by

Most of us have probably had a month where everything seemed to go wrong at once. The car needed repairs. A child got sick. The water heater quit working. An unexpected bill showed up in the mailbox. For many families, those moments are frustrating. For thousands of households across Sullivan County, they can change the course of an entire month. Over the past several weeks, I've shared what the latest ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data tells us about financial hardship in our community. These are households with jobs that earn above the federal poverty line but still struggle to consistently afford the basics. We've talked about the rising cost of child care and the reality that many working families are doing everything right, yet still find themselves one unexpected expense away from financial hardship. That leads to a bigger question. What does it really mean to be financially stable? Financial stability isn't simply about income. It's about having enough breathing room to handle life's inevitable surprises. The ALICE Household Survival Budget reflects the minimum cost to live and work in today's economy, covering housing, food, transportation, health care, child care, technology and taxes. It doesn't include saving for retirement, building an emergency fund, or planning for future goals. In other words, it isn't a budget for thriving. It's a budget for surviving. The budget also reminds us that financial stability isn't shaped by one expense alone. Housing remains one of the largest monthly costs for most families. Transportation adds hundreds of dollars more each month, and in Northeast Tennessee, a reliable vehicle often determines whether someone can get to work, school, child care or a medical appointment. When every dollar already has a purpose, there simply isn't much left for life's surprises. The encouraging news is that progress is possible. The latest ALICE data shows fewer Sullivan County households living below the ALICE threshold than in previous years. That's a reminder that communities can make a difference when they work together. At United Way, we believe the best solutions begin by listening. Data helps us understand what is happening. Conversations with our neighbors help us understand why. That's why we've partnered with the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency (UETHDA) on a community needs assessment. Collectively, we've studied local data on household income, housing, health, child care, food access, transportation and more. Now we're asking the people who live and work here to help us complete the picture. Your experiences will help shape future priorities, guide funding decisions, and strengthen the partnerships that support ALICE families across our community. In fact, that approach is already making a difference. As we listened to employers, educators and families, one challenge surfaced again and again: reliable transportation. That led to RoadSafe, a partnership between United Way, UETHDA, the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, Northeast State Community College, local businesses, and other community partners. Together, we're helping families stay safely on the road so they can get to work, attend class, access child care, and continue building brighter futures. RoadSafe is just one example of what's possible when communities listen first and then work together to respond. If you have about 15 minutes, I hope you'll complete the community needs assessment at https://tinyurl.com/UETHDA. More importantly, share it with your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. The more voices we hear, the better equipped we'll be to understand our community's greatest challenges and invest in solutions that help more families move beyond simply getting by. That's the kind of future I believe we all want for Greater Kingsport. United is the Way! Josh Mullins is executive director of United Way Greater Kingsport.