Who Are the Working Homeless? Inside the ALICE Crisis in Winter Haven

By Tabitha Keith, Director of Programs, Heart for Winter Haven

It is easy to assume that homelessness only happens to people who are not working. But here in Winter Haven, and across Polk County, that is simply not true. Every week, we meet families who are employed, some even full-time, yet they are still unable to afford a stable place to live.

These are our *ALICE families: Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed. They are the backbone of our community, working in childcare centers, grocery stores, schools, restaurants, warehouses, and healthcare. They earn above the federal poverty level but not enough to cover basic necessities like housing, transportation, and childcare in today’s economy.

The Invisible Strain of Being ALICE

According to recent United Way data, nearly 50% of households in Polk County fall into the ALICE or poverty categories. In Winter Haven, that translates to thousands of families who are just one unexpected bill away from eviction or instability.

They are not always visible. You may not see them sleeping on sidewalks or standing on street corners. But you may see them in the school drop-off line, working the register at Publix, or helping your aging parent at a local clinic.

One mother recently shared, “I work full-time, but my rent takes over 70% of my paycheck. One flat tire, and everything falls apart.”

The ALICE Project at Heart for Winter Haven

At Heart for Winter Haven, we created the ALICE Project to build real pathways to economic mobility for these working families. It is not enough to stabilize them, we want to see them thrive.

Through the ALICE Project, qualified participants receive up to $2,500 in business coaching and start-up support, or up to $1,500 toward certifications and licensure. These are not handouts, they are investments in long-term, livable careers.

Our goal is to help families move from low-wage, dead-end jobs to roles that create upward mobility. We work one-on-one with participants to identify barriers, build skills, and connect them to real opportunities in the workforce.

Imagine a single mom working long hours in fast food, earning $13 an hour with no benefits. With support from the ALICE Project, she could pursue a certification in medical billing, move into a job earning closer to $17–18 an hour, and finally have consistent hours and basic benefits.

That may not solve everything overnight, but it changes the daily choices she faces. Instead of choosing between rent and groceries, or gas and a doctor’s visit, she begins to have a little margin. With that breathing room, she can avoid high-interest loans, start saving small amounts, and feel more confident about caring for her children and planning for the future.

A Community-Wide Solution

Addressing the ALICE crisis is not just a nonprofit challenge. It is a community imperative. We need local employers who are willing to offer flexible scheduling for classes or internships. We need business leaders who can mentor aspiring entrepreneurs. And we need donors who believe that working families deserve more than survival.

Most of all, we need a shared commitment to seeing and supporting the invisible workforce among us.

Get Involved

We believe that working should not mean struggling. Every family deserves the opportunity to thrive.

*In Florida, ALICE data is made possible by United Way of Florida.