Local United Ways across Connecticut are dedicating the week of April 24th as Act For ALICE Week to raise awareness of ALICE households in our state.
Nearly 40% of Connecticut households live paycheck-to-paycheck, defined as ALICE families – an acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These families work hard at the jobs available to them, but still struggle to make ends meet.
Each day we’ll provide quick actions you can take to advocate for what matters to ALICE. Today, we encourage you to email your state legislator!
Here are sample phone scripts that can help get your message across quickly. Thank you for standing with ALICE and emailing your state legislators to ask that they stand with ALICE too!
Not sure why your legislators are? You can search for them by your address here.
Please personalize the words in red text.
Child Tax Credit Email
Dear Senator/Representative Last Name,
I am writing as a resident of Your Town, Connecticut. I am disappointed that the Connecticut Child Tax Credit was not included in the Finance Committee’s proposed budget.
ALICE families who live paycheck-to-paycheck or are falling behind on bills need your help now! Please support a permanent, fully refundable CT Child Tax Credit of $600 per child.
Families in Connecticut are facing stark increases in essentials, including a 35% increase in the cost of childcare in just the last three years. At the same time, have been hard hit by recent cuts in federal benefits that helped cover the costs of raising children, paying for childcare, and putting food on the table.
Thank you for your support in ensuring that a permanent Connecticut Child Tax Credit is included in the state budget. Please let me know if you would like further information.
Sincerely,
Your Name
No-Cost School Meals Email
Dear Senator/Representative Last Name,
I am writing as a resident of Your Town, Connecticut. My support for school meals for all in Connecticut has not wavered. I urge your support to include funding in the state budget.
More kids eat when ALL kids are fed. Our kids need the necessary tools to perform well and giving them nourishing breakfasts and lunches is the best way to increase student performance and decrease bullying and stigma.
Hunger is a real, but sometimes invisible, issue in every city and town in Connecticut. One in four households in 110 of the state’s 169 towns live paycheck-to-paycheck, but only 35 towns offer no-cost meals programs.
I urge you to fund giving all students in Connecticut the meals they need to be healthy and achieve in school. This is what we want for our Connecticut students. Let’s spend the money where it has the most impact.
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Your Name