The United Way of Northeast Florida recently led a “Meet ALICE” poverty simulation at JEA offering insight into the experiences of working families who navigate constant financial pressures. ALICE, an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, represents members of the community who are employed yet struggle to afford basic necessities due to the rising cost of living. In Northeast Florida, nearly 39 percent of households face financial hardship, with communities of color disproportionately affected.
During this interactive experience more than 50 JEA team members had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of ALICE families, gaining valuable perspective on the difficult decisions and constraints many customers face daily. Each JEA employee was assigned a family group and received a role in that family. Some family members visited social services. Many had transportation issues. Some got evicted. Some were so in need of money and broke the law and got arrested. JEA employes called the simulation overwhelming, but a great lesson in empathy. “A simulation like this brings it home. It makes it feel real. When you’re having to get a pay day loan, or when the bank won’t cash your check because you don’t have an account,” said Steve Selders, vice president of Application Delivery & Enterprise Architecture.
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