United Way of Northwest Illinois
Find your next step with ALICE assistance
United Way mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. If you’re working and still struggling to cover essential expenses, start here to learn about ALICE and review your options.
The ALICE Mini-Grant considers one-time assistance for eligible working households in Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll counties facing an immediate essential need.
Applying does not guarantee assistance. Please contact UWNI to confirm current funding and how to submit your application.
Understanding the term
What does ALICE mean?
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It describes households earning above the Federal Poverty Level but less than the cost of basic living expenses where they live.
The ALICE Household Survival Budget considers housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, technology and taxes. Costs vary by county and household size.
ALICE describes an income situation. The term itself is not an approval for assistance; individual programs have their own requirements.
How to get started
Begin with the guidelines below, then review the application and gather the information requested. If anything is unclear, contact UWNI before submitting.
1. Review the ALICE assistance guidelines
The published application lists these starting requirements:
- Live in Stephenson, Jo Daviess or Carroll County.
- Work at least 20 hours weekly, or have a written job offer starting within 30 days.
- Have household gross income below the local ALICE Household Survival Budget for your household size.
- Have an immediate need that a one-time payment can help address.
Requests are reviewed individually. Approved payments go directly to verified vendors, not to applicants. Read the full guidelines for covered expenses and exclusions.
2. Read the application and gather your documents
Review the application and cover sheet for the full checklist. Requested documents include identification, residency and employment information, and current statements showing your need.
3. Contact UWNI about submitting your application
Call to confirm current funding, submission instructions and any questions about the requested information before sending personal documents.
Financial Security
United Way of Northwest Illinois brings local partners together to help households build financial stability and strength. A paycheck can fall short of the cost of housing, child care and other essentials. The tools below show how those costs vary by county and household size.
Understand income and essential costs
These tools offer background information. You do not need to complete a calculator before asking UWNI a question.
Compare income with local costs
Explore the ALICE Budget and Income Status Tool for your location and household type.
Explore household budgets
See how essential living costs differ across Illinois counties and household compositions.
Financial hardship in our region
ALICE household information by county
These figures provide community context. They represent households below the ALICE Threshold, combining ALICE households and households in poverty.
2024 household estimates from the 2026 United For ALICE Illinois data sheet. Percentages are rounded to one decimal. These are not counts of households receiving UWNI assistance.
Stephenson County
37.3%
of households were below the ALICE Threshold.
7,215 households
Out of 19,358 total households.
View the household breakdown
-
ALICE households
-
4,706
-
Households in poverty
-
2,509
Jo Daviess County
31.8%
of households were below the ALICE Threshold.
3,302 households
Out of 10,391 total households.
View the household breakdown
-
ALICE households
-
2,443
-
Households in poverty
-
859
Carroll County
39.8%
of households were below the ALICE Threshold.
2,616 households
Out of 6,578 total households.
View the household breakdown
-
ALICE households
-
1,813
-
Households in poverty
-
803
Across the three counties
13,133 households, or 36.2% of the region’s 36,327 households, were below the ALICE Threshold.
This includes 8,962 ALICE households and 4,171 households in poverty. The combined percentage uses the region’s total household count.
Explore official Illinois county reports
Select Stephenson, Jo Daviess or Carroll County in the report tool.
Still looking for the right support?
If ALICE assistance does not fit your situation, or you need other resources, 211 is a separate service that can connect you with local organizations.
For questions about the ALICE application, call UWNI at 815-232-5184. You can ask for clarification before deciding your next step.
Program information and data sources
- UWNI ALICE Mini-Grant application and eligibility guidelines . Contact UWNI for current program availability and submission instructions.
- United For ALICE Illinois county reports and 2026 Illinois Data Sheet (Excel) . County figures above use 2024 household estimates.