Research Document
ALICE in the Crosscurrents: 2024 Update on Financial Hardship in Texas
This report shows that 43% of Texas families struggle to afford basic needs like housing and food, even when they work full-time jobs. While wages have grown for some jobs, the costs of living have grown even faster. Many working families earn too much to get help but not enough to get by.
14 pages|4.8 MB|March 6, 2026
Key Takeaways
1
4.7 million Texas households (43%) live below the ALICE Threshold, unable to afford basic necessities
2
From 2021 to 2022, basic living costs increased faster than wages for most families
3
ALICE households grew by 116,891 (4%) between 2021-2022, continuing a decade-long trend
4
70% of the 20 most common jobs in Texas pay less than $20 per hour
5
Pandemic assistance programs helped families temporarily but ended in 2022, leaving many struggling
6
Working families often earn too much to qualify for assistance but too little to afford basic needs
Keywords|United Way of HoustonALICE. AssetLimitedIncomeConstrainedEmployedfinancial hardshipalice householdspovertycost of livingwagesworking familieseconomic stabilitytexas economy
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