ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) is a new term to me, and I am shocked (?) to know the county I live in has a higher ALICE rate than surrounding counties, which seem poorer on the surface (don't have a large university, appear to have less business, more people walking around that look down and out). Maybe the key word here is Employed. This group is identified as earning over the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to cover the basic cost of living. And remember, the cost of living in central Illinois is pretty low, despite the way people complain about taxes.
Perhaps our county has a disproportionate number of underemployed and underpaid workers. Not surprising this hits POC harder.
Segregation is still a thing. I don't see it as much as it probably exists. In housing for sure, as the lower your income the fewer options you have with regard to housing. Our public schools are combined attendance centers so everyone attends the same schools according to grade level. This presumably evens the playing field in education. However, I have anecdotal information that some children are treated differently and they happen to be Black.
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