For the first time since 2010, the poverty rate in America shot up dramatically in 2022, according to data from the Census Bureau. That means more Americans can’t afford basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, and utilities than has been the case in more than a decade.
But the situation isn't just affecting Americans living in poverty. United Way uses the term ALICE to refer to the increasing number of people who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed but are still not able to afford their basic needs. In 2021, 13% of Americans earned below the federal poverty level but many more, 29%, fell under the ALICE umbrella, according to the grassroots movement United for ALICE.
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A study published in August 2022 from Brandeis University found that more than 75% of low-income families working full-time cannot cover the cost of basic needs. What's more, fewer than 1 in 5 low-income Hispanic and Black families in particular are able to afford the costs of a household budget. "Full-time work alone isn't enough to cover the everyday essentials most families need to support themselves," the study's lead author, Pamela Joshi, who holds a doctorate in social policy, said in a statement.
If you're looking for ways to help, particularly as the temperatures drop and the holidays approach, consider cleaning out your closet and donating a coat to those in need. To help point you in the right direction, Stacker compiled a list of coat drives near Houston using data from One Warm Coat, a nonprofit that provides free coats to children and adults in need across America. Since 1992, they've given out more than 7.85 million coats.
"This is one very small way to take a step forward and do something very tangible," One Warm Coat CEO Beth Amodio told USA Today in October 2023. "It's impossible to change the world. But it is possible to change one person's experience, one person at a time."
Read on to find out where you can contribute.
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD - Address: 2627 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77004
Lord of The Streets - Address: 3401 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77004
Covenant House Texas - Address: 1110 Lovett Blvd, Houston, TX 77006
New Life Resort Inc - Address: 5100 Travis St, Houston, TX 77002
Eastwood Wraparound - Address: 1315 Dumble St, Houston, TX 77023
Carrillo Elementary School - Address: 960 S Wayside Dr, Houston, TX 77023
El Centro de Corazon - Address: 7037 Capitol St, Houston, TX 77011
J.Crew Houston #523 - Address: 5085 Westheimer Road Space #8010, Houston, TX, 77056
Davila Elementary School - Address: 7610 Dahlia St, Houston, TX 77012
Rainbow Youth Center - Address: 3700 Watonga Blvd Apt 2413, Houston, TX 77092
Highland Heights ES Wraparound - Address: 865 Paul Quinn St, Houston, TX 77091
Coop Elementary - Address: 10130 Aldine Westfield Rd, Houston, TX 77093
Choice And Chance Center For Change - Address: 9115 Scott St, Houston, TX 77051
Buckner Family Hope Center - Address: 2575 Reed Rd, Bldg. H, Houston, TX 77051
LAMP Services - Address: 6100 Knox Street, Houston, TX 77091
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 395 metros.
