ECONOMIC SECURITY
Only two-thirds of Maine’s workforce of 620,000 people earn a living wage. Economic security is about the ability of individuals, households or communities to cover their essential needs sustainably and with dignity.
In Knox & Waldo Counties 11% of the population lives in poverty and another 31% of the populations is employed but not making enough to cover the cost of living in this region. These Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE) families work in many of the seasonal and service jobs here, but can’t afford the basics. They often make “too much” to qualify for government aid and therefore rely on the support that many of our grantees provide in the community. Check out this interactive budget calculator to see what it takes to survive and then live comfortably in Maine.
