Latest news with #MartinHowe
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
46% of West Virginia households fall below threshold of financial survival, data says
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — A recent study using data from the United Way found that around 2 in 5 West Virginia employees live paycheck to paycheck and still struggle to make ends meet. A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for 'Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed' and is a term designated to a household that typically brings in less than the costs of basic needs like housing, childcare and food, but makes enough income that they do not meet the federal poverty level to qualify for assistance. Research through United Way and Highmark, known as 'United for A.L.I.C.E.,' found that 46% of West Virginia households fell below the A.L.I.C.E. threshold of financial survival—nearly half of our state's population. That number includes the 17% of households that lived in poverty in 2023. 12 News spoke with United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties Executive Director Martin Howe on what he believes can be done to assist those categorized under A.L.I.C.E. West Virginia is the cheapest state to retire in, study says 'If they raise the income level, typically the other things go up as well, so it's a delicate situation, but I think, overall, the state is attempting to do as much as they can. I think the people who fall in these categories are true hard workers and want to do good for themselves,' said Howe. 33% of West Virginia workers who fall into A.L.I.C.E. have service industry jobs like personal care aides, janitors, cashiers, and waiters. United for A.L.I.C.E. data also found that West Virginia ranked 44th in financial hardship among all 50 states, with one of the nation's highest percentages of households struggling to make ends meet. So, where do we go from here with this information? The answer isn't one-size-fits-all. Howe gave suggestions for those in need of assistance. 'Reach out to the resources that are out there. A lot of people do not realize what resources are there, but if they call the 211, they have all the resources available for you to assist, whether it be financial or other types of resources, they may need to refer you to different entities that we partner with and some that we don't,' said Howe. You can read the State of A.L.I.C.E. data through its report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Celebrating 211 Day: A lifeline for millions in West Virginia
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Every year, Feb. 11 is known as '211 Day' in West Virginia, which is dedicated to celebrating the 211 service and how it can connect millions of people with resources and services available in their community. For the United Way, this day represents a day to highlight the power of this simple three-digit number that provides access to critical community services. West Virginia Treasurer Pack seeks to establish term limits on some executive offices 211 is a confidential, free service that helps individuals connect with resources and services available in their community. It's a lifeline for those seeking assistance who aren't sure where to turn, offering support ranging from housing and food to healthcare and mental health services. '211 Day is very important because it is like a national resource, and it's kind of like a simple number people can call if they are needing help and just don't know where to turn. I think that's really resourceful for people,' Jacqueline Brown, a Community Resource Specialist at WV 211, said. The United Way said that in 2023, 211 fielded 15.4 million requests for help in the U.S. United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties Executive Director Martin Howe highlights=ed the reliability and accessibility of 211, explaining how it operates '24/7, 365 days a year and is free.' He added that the service is confidential so that those who are embarrassed or don't want their information shared with the public are able to keep it private. You can learn more about 211, by visiting its website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
