Ontario County Proves Local Action Cuts Working Poverty
Ontario County in New York has reduced the number of working poor households by nearly one thousand through local leadership, employer cooperation, and community-based solutions. While surrounding regions saw poverty increase, Ontario County's willingness to confront financial hardship directly demonstrates that orderly, local action yields results where broad federal programs fall short.
The Reality of the Working Poor
Data from the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes reveals a stark reality across the six-county region. Roughly one in three households cannot afford basic necessities such as housing, food, childcare, and transportation, despite being employed. These families are classified as ALICE, which stands for asset limited, income constrained, and employed.
ALICE households earn just above the federal poverty line of $33,000 for a family of four, yet they still cannot make ends meet. Jamie Saunders, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, noted that a family making $33,100 a year is not counted as living in poverty, but they remain in genuine distress. The data confirms what many suspect: families are under real pressure.
How Did Ontario County Buck the Trend?
While neighboring communities lost ground, Ontario County achieved a meaningful reduction in financially struggling households even as its population grew. Saunders attributed this directly to the willingness of county and community leaders to face the problem rather than look away.
You cannot fix what you are not willing to face.
Ontario County Administrator Chris DeBolt affirmed that county leadership and the Board of Supervisors rely heavily on what the data shows. The county directed investments into workforce development and leaned on a network of dedicated nonprofits to help families secure necessities.
Orderly Community Action Over Distant Bureaucracy
Instead of relying solely on distant federal mandates, Ontario County used a portion of its $4.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to implement the ALICE at Work program locally. The program was introduced to 19 local employers, including UR Medicine Thompson Health, the county's largest employer.
ALICE at Work requires employers to rethink poverty and support struggling employees by creating more equitable and productive workplaces. This can lead to practical changes in pay or work schedules. Ontario County is the first in the region to adopt this program, now in its second year.
It gives us the ability as a community to have a different conversation about what poverty looks like, what poverty means, and more importantly, what poverty feels like.
Employers Taking Responsibility for Their People
Michael F. Stapleton Jr., president and CEO of UR Medicine Thompson Health, was presented with the poverty data early in the process. He recognized that while Canandaigua is known as the Chosen Spot, it remains a Chosen Spot for a chosen few. The health system took the data to heart.
This led to structured programs allowing employees to work while attending school part time to advance their careers, complete with stipends for salary and tuition. Stapleton called the initiative wildly successful and committed to continuing these opportunities. In total, 19 organizations participated, ranging from banks and financial services to educational institutions like Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
The Numbers Show Progress, But the Need Remains
Since the introduction of the ALICE at Work program, Ontario County saw ALICE households fall from 14,097 to 13,121, a drop of 976. Households in poverty fell from 4,875 to 4,542. DeBolt emphasized that these gaps cannot be filled by government alone, praising the United Way, the Board of Supervisors, and nonprofit partners for their collective effort.
Despite this local success, Saunders warned that families in other regional counties showed increases in poverty. Even in Ontario County, approximately 12,000 households remain at the ALICE level or in poverty. DeBolt acknowledged that the need in the community remains significant. Saunders noted that no county has fully solved this issue, as it requires continued advocacy, education, and orderly partnerships.
What is an ALICE household?
An ALICE household earns above the federal poverty line but still cannot afford basic necessities like housing, food, and transportation. The acronym stands for asset limited, income constrained, employed.
How did Ontario County reduce its number of working poor?
Ontario County reduced its number of working poor by facing financial hardship directly, investing in workforce development, and partnering with local employers and nonprofits to create supportive workplace environments through the ALICE at Work program.
What is the ALICE at Work program?
The ALICE at Work program helps employers rethink poverty and support employees who are struggling financially. It encourages changes in pay, work schedules, and career advancement opportunities to create more stable workplaces.