The Consequences of Insufficient Household Income

Strategy 1: Forgo Other Expenses to Buy and Maintain a Car
Public transportation is significantly cheaper than owning or leasing a car (Figure 8), but it does not exist in
most parts of the country. Therefore, employment in most areas requires access to a reliable vehicle, which
adds significant expense to a family budget. Nationally, 86 percent of workers either drive to work alone or
carpool, indicating that most households own at least one car. Rates vary across the country; for example,
in the 15 states studied so far bythe United Way ALICE Project, New York households had the lowest rate
of vehicle access at 70 percent, while 96 percent of Idaho households had a vehicle (Pew Research Center,
2016; Baum, 2009; Hoopes, 2016).
Consequences
Less money available for other necessities: The cost of owning and maintaining a car forces
many families to reduce spending on other necessities like healthy food, prescriptions, or
preventative medical care. Research shows that increased car expenses also take away from
investments – particularly housing investments that could help a family accumulate wealth (Agrawal,
Blumenberg, Abel, Pierce, & Darrah, 2011).
Strategy 2: Minimize Car Expenses
Because leasing or buying a new car in the U.S. is too expensive for many ALICE families, they choose
less expensive vehicles and keep them for longer. The median car value for low-income families is $4,000,
or about one-third of the $12,000 median value of cars owned by middle-income families. While these
older cars are more affordable up front, they are more likely to be less fuel-efficient and to break down and
require repairs, adding ongoing expense over time (AAA, 2016; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), 2014; Bricker, Kennickell, Moore, & Sabelhaus, 2012).
Consequences
Disruption of work schedules: When ALICE cannot afford car maintenance, especially for
older cars, those vehicles are more likely to break down and need costly repairs. Disruption in
transportation can prevent ALICE and poverty-level families from getting to work or add time and
cost to reaching their jobs, resulting in tardiness and absenteeism (Bricker, Kennickell, Moore, &
Sabelhaus, 2012; Criden, 2008; Community Transportation Association of America, 2011; Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 2013).
Limited school choice: Access to transportation sometimes determines the number of child care
facilities and school choice options that are available to an ALICE family. Limited or no access to a
car means that some families struggle to access quality child care, or incur greater costs to get a
child to a quality program. It can also lead to extra “late pickup” fees if transportation is unreliable.
In addition, the lack of a car means that a family can only access local schools or those available by
public transit, which can prevent students from attending a charter school or a public school with a
specialized program outside their immediate school zone (Center for Transit Oriented Development,
2012; Dawkins, Jeon, & Pendall, 2015; Criden, 2008).
Limited food choices: Low-income neighborhoods have fewer full-service, competitively priced
grocery stores and a higher proportion of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores than higherincome
neighborhoods. Because of this, ALICE residents without access to transportation who
have to shop locally are often forced to spend more of their income on less nutritious food (Agrawal,
Blumenberg, Abel, Pierce, & Darrah, 2011).
52 UNITED WAY ALICE REPORT – THE CONSEQUENCES OF INSUFFICIENT HOUSEHOLD INCOME