Report: Nearly half of Bexar County households can't make ends meet

Photo byMatthew LeJuneonUnsplash

A new report shows that 46 percent of households in San Antonio's Bexar County are struggling to make ends meet.

United for ALICE, sponsored by United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, found that nearly half of the county's households, "earn above the federal poverty level but are unable to afford the basic costs of living."

ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained and Employed. Those who are working, but still on the edge of economic survival.

In Bexar, the report says, residents are working hard for what they have — but are having to make significant sacrifices to make ends meet.

46 percent of the county's households earn less than what is required to make it in the current economy. That's nearly 350,000 households countywide.

Those households earn wages below the cost of living — what's required to be able to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare in a particular place.

This means that 344,827 households in Bexar County earn wages below the cost of living. The data in this new report was collected in 2022 as pandemic-era programs, tax credits and other support systems ended.

Texas' statewide wages have increased as much as 26 percent in some common jobs — notably retail sales clerks, stockers, and fast food workers — it hasn't been enough to offset rising costs of housing, childcare, food, clothing, and other basic necessities.

San Antonio, county seat of Bexar, has been hit hard with skyrocking rent and home purchase prices since 2020. Though this year has shown only a 2.4 percent rise, the previous two years saw increases in double-digits.

Many residents lost access to property tax credits, particularly those expanded in 2021, while incentives from the state went to giving large businesses a tax break. State Republicans spent much of the last legislative session arguing over how to break down a new $12.8 billion in property tax cuts between homeowners, small business, and large business, with large business getting the most cuts — and homeowners receiving the least. This has left homeowners in Bexar — and across the state — to pick up the tab left from large, corporate incentives.

People in the situation, ALICEs, have two — or even three — jobs, yet still can't cover the cost of living in the county.

Because they work so much, they often can't qualify for public benefits programs, such as food stamps and state Medicaid, but still can't afford basic necessities.

31 percent of all households in Bexar County fall into the category of ALICE, meaning they earn less than the cost of living necessary to survive but above the Federal Poverty Level.

Another 15 percent earn even less, falling below the Federal Poverty Level, for a total of 46 percent.

The report found that those earning less than what's needed to survive are:

• 80% of single female-headed households with children
  
• 50% of households of seniors 65+
  
• 56% of Black households
  
• 51% of Hispanic households
  
• 34% of Caucasian (Non-Latino) households

Anyone experiencing financial hardship in Bexar County is encouraged to call United Way’s 2-1-1 Helpline to discover resources that can provide relief or support. The United Way says they offer services that can help people increase their earning potential or continue their education.

2-1-1 is free, open 24/7/365, anonymous and available in Spanish.

For a full report on ALICE data in Texas and San Antonio, you can click right here.

Alongside the report is the Survival Budget Calculator. It's a tool that allows users to input their household size to see an itemized list of costs and necessary income just to make ends meet. You can check that out and try it yourself, at this link.

As always, if you have a spicy tip for me, want to check out my less news-y writing, or just want to stop by and say hi — you can find me over on Substack at @aboyandhisdog.

If you're curious about me —you don't have to be. You can find out just about everything you'd want to know about this Texas boy right here, my own politics, and my thoughts on the state of journalism.