Many families across North Carolina are unprepared for an economic downturn or just one emergency away from a financial crisis. According to a 2023 survey by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 40 percent of American households reported they would be unable to cover more than a month’s expenses if they lost their main source of income. The 2024 Emerging Issues Forum examined financial resilience: a household’s ability to financially withstand and recover from economic challenges.
In this episode of “The Connector” IEI Director Sarah Hall and United Way of North Carolina President and CEO Brittany Pruitt Fletcher unpack the newly released ALICE Report – “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.” The report is a comprehensive depiction of financial need in the state, placing a spotlight on households earning more than the official Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford basic expenses such as housing, transportation, food and childcare.

The Connector podcast explores connections being made across sectors, regions and perspectives resulting in a more vibrant and prosperous North Carolina. To learn more about the Institute for Emerging Issues, visit emergingissues.org.