In 2023, 40% of Pennsylvanian households faced financial instability, representing more than 1.4 million families. 12% of those homes were in poverty and 28% were ALICE. ALICE which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, refers to anyone who lives at or below the survival budget threshold but above the federal poverty level. These are our neighbors, coworkers, and community members—people who work hard in critical roles like teaching, health care, and public service, yet are forced to make difficult trade-offs just to cover the basics.
Impossible Choices is an interactive, thought-provoking activity that puts you in the shoes of an ALICE household. In this real-life-inspired simulation, participants face a month of tough budget decisions, balancing essentials while navigating unexpected expenses.
The experience, based on real Pennsylvania data and ALICE family stories, shows how quickly a budget can run out, no matter how carefully it’s managed. It sparks empathy, understanding, and conversation about the financial instability faced by working households across the state.
Sessions are open to individuals of companies, nonprofits, community groups, and members of the public who want to better understand ALICE. They are free to attend, last up to one hour, and leave participants with a deeper awareness of the difficult decisions many PA families make every day just to get by.
UWP Impossible Choices Schedule
United Way of Pennsylvania offers the Impossible Choices activity at no cost for individuals of companies, nonprofits, and community groups who want to better understand the realities faced by ALICE households. Click on your desired date to register. Virtual seats are limited.
2026 Impossible Choices Activities Coming Soon
Bring Impossible Choices to Your Community or Company
United Way of Pennsylvania can bring the power of Impossible Choices directly to your community, company, or organization. We offer localized sessions tailored to your county’s data and the realities your ALICE households see every day—making the experience more relatable, relevant, and impactful.
Whether you want to engage employees, educate partners, or raise awareness about ALICE in your community, we can facilitate the session for you or provide a customizable presentation template so you can lead it yourself. Presentations will be co-branded with your logo. For questions, contact Ashley Leary at aleary@uwp.org.
UWP Facilitated Sessions: UWP will design a localized presentation based on your organizational footprint and lead a facilitated Impossible Choices activity for up to fifty (50) people. ($350)
Localized Template: UWP will design a localized presentation based on your organizational footprint and will provide you with digital instructions and a script to lead the session on you own. ($200)
*UWP Members and ACOP Members will receive a $50 discount.