ALICE Urgent Needs

man with dark hair holding a baby while seated at a table

ALICE Urgent Needs Assistance

Emergency Support for Working Families Facing Financial Hardship

 

ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households are a vital part of our community—working hard every day, yet often living paycheck to paycheck. When unexpected expenses arise, many families find themselves in crisis without access to traditional assistance.

United Way of Washington County, in partnership with Reach of Washington County, provides urgent financial assistance for working families through the ALICE Urgent Needs Grant—helping households stabilize and move forward.

 

Who This Program Is For

This program is designed for Washington County residents who are:

  • Employed but struggling to make ends meet
  • Living above the federal poverty level but unable to afford basic necessities
  • Experiencing a recent, unexpected financial hardship
  • In need of short-term support to maintain stability

In Washington County, Maryland, a staggering 43% of the population falls into the ALICE classification—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are hardworking individuals and families who earn above the federal poverty level yet struggle to afford basic necessities such as housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare. Despite holding jobs, many ALICE households are just one emergency away from financial crisis, lacking sufficient savings or assets to weather unexpected expenses.

The challenges faced by ALICE families in Washington County have far-reaching implications for the community. Rising living costs, coupled with stagnant wages and limited access to affordable services, create persistent barriers to economic stability. As a result, ALICE households often make difficult choices, such as foregoing medical care or reliable transportation, which can further hinder opportunities for advancement. Addressing the needs of ALICE is essential for fostering a stronger, more resilient Washington County.

To learn more about ALICE, visit our United for ALICE webpage. 

 

What We Can Help With

 

The ALICE Urgent Needs Assistance grant is intended to address urgent, short-term needs that may impact a household’s stability. Many ALICE families earn slightly above the income thresholds required for traditional assistance programs, which often makes them ineligible for support—even when they are struggling to cover basic expenses. This program helps fill that gap by providing flexible, timely assistance when it’s needed most.

  • Rent or mortgage payments to prevent eviction
  • Utility assistance
  • Emergency medical-related expenses
  • Transportation repairs needed to maintain employment
  • Other critical, one-time needs

All requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Must be a Washington County, MD resident and meet ALICE income guidelines. 

 

How To Apply

Individuals seeking assistance are asked to visit Reach of Washington County in person on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

Location: 140 W. Franklin Street, Suite 300, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Entrance: Located at the back of the building, accessible via Weller’s Alley (through the parking lot)

Applicants should bring:

  • Proof of income for all household members
  • Documentation of the urgent need (such as a shut-off notice, eviction notice, or medical bill)

Reach’s staff will meet with you to review your situation and determine if funding is available to assist. For more information, visit Reach of Washington County's website. 

For a complete listing of resources, please visit our Community Resources page. 

 

Why This Matters

ALICE families are essential to our local workforce—serving as healthcare workers, retail employees, childcare providers, and more. Despite working hard, many do not qualify for traditional assistance programs due to income thresholds, leaving them especially vulnerable when emergencies occur. 

For ALICE households, even a single unexpected emergency—such as a car repair, medical bill, or job loss—can quickly unravel their fragile financial stability. With little or no savings to fall back on, these families may be forced to take on high-interest debt, fall behind on rent or utility payments, or sacrifice essentials like food and healthcare. Such setbacks can trigger a downward spiral, pushing ALICE households from just getting by into poverty, making it much more difficult to recover financially.

This program fills that gap—ensuring that working families have somewhere to turn when they need help the most.

 

Real Impact

When a family’s primary earner experienced a sudden medical emergency, lost wages quickly put their housing at risk. Through the ALICE Urgent Needs Grant, short-term assistance helped them remain housed and stable until the individual returned to work—preventing a much larger crisis.

 

About the Partnership

This initiative is made possible through a collaboration between United Way of Washington County and Reach of Washington County, combining resources and expertise to respond quickly and effectively to urgent community needs.

 

Made Possible By

The ALICE Urgent Needs Grant is funded through the Ricker Urgent Needs for Families Fund, whose generosity ensures that working families—often ineligible for other forms of assistance—have access to critical, timely support.