Haddon Twp.'s Poverty Rate Grew Amid COVID, With Local Money Woes More Common: Report

HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ — Financial struggles among Haddon Township residents became more prevalent during the pandemic, with a higher poverty rate and a significant number of residents struggling to stay afloat, according to new data.

About 30 percent of township households had trouble affording the basics during the COVID-19 crisis, including 9 percent below the poverty line, according to a report released last April by nonprofit United Way of Northern New Jersey. The rate of financially struggling Haddonfield residents also grew slightly during that time.

United Way quantifies financial difficulties by determining a locale's rate of "ALICE" households, which stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. United Way of Northern New Jersey coined the phrase in 2009 to represent those living paycheck to paycheck.

"ALICE" households make more than the poverty line but less than what's necessary to afford basics in their area. United Way of Northern New Jersey contends that ALICE families — many of which had "essential workers" who helped their communities through the COVID crisis — are overlooked and undercounted by traditional poverty measures.

From 2017-21, Haddon Township held a higher median-household income ($101,411) than the state and national figures of $89,703 and $70,784, according to U.S. Census data. Haddonfield's median-household income totaled $159,323. But United Way's report shows the prevalence of financial struggles throughout the nation, even in wealthier-than-average communities.

In 2018, 27 percent of Haddon Township households earned less than the ALICE threshold — an estimate of earnings required to afford basic necessities. The figure includes 6 percent of households below the poverty line. For the first full calendar year of COVID in 2021, United Way estimated that 30 percent of township residents fell below the threshold, including 9 percent in poverty.

Meanwhile, 12.5 percent of Haddonfield households made less than the ALICE threshold in 2018, including 2 percent in poverty. While the borough's poverty rate remained the same in 2021, 14 percent of residents struggled to make ends meet, according to the report.

The ALICE threshold varies by area and living situation. A Camden County adult living alone needs to earn $14.06 hourly or $28,116 annually to make ends meet, whereas a two-adult household with an infant and a preschooler requires earnings of $33.44 an hour and $66,876 per year to stay afloat in the county, the report says.

Statewide, the number of households experiencing financial hardship grew by 14 percent — an increase of 157,000 households — between 2019 and 2021. By that point, 1.3 million New Jersey households struggled to afford basics, including 368,639 in poverty, according to United Way.

But United Way of Northern New Jersey says the COVID-related economic crisis would've been more difficult if not for a combination of pandemic supports and rising wages.

"It could have been so much worse for these families, whose struggle to feed their families, afford health care and access quality education was often hidden in plain sight until the pandemic," said Kiran Handa Gaudioso, the nonprofit's CEO. "Equipped with this ALICE data, we can do even better to develop effective policies and track our progress toward reducing financial hardship in New Jersey."

The cost of living has risen, as well. According to the report, the basic cost to live and work in New Jersey rose by 16 percent for a single adult to $33,984 and by 13 percent for a senior citizen to $38,328.

Costs increased 10 percent for a family of four with an infant and a preschooler. But the Child Tax Credit and Child Dependent Care Tax Credit helped soften the blow, bringing the "survival budget" down to $82,176, the report says. Without those credits, United Way says the budget would've reached as high as $98,000.

The report comes from United Way of Northern New Jersey and its research arm, United For ALICE. View the full report here.