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Report: Half of Michiganders with disabilities struggle to afford basic costs

November 13, 2026

According to new United Way data, approximately half of Michigan residents with disabilities are experiencing financial hardship, with around 1. 4 million Michiganders having at least one type of disability in 2024. While 20 percent of this population lives below the federal poverty threshold, an additional 29 percent falls into the ALICE category—people who earn above poverty level but cannot afford basic necessities like housing, food, and healthcare.

Who is affected

  • Approximately 1.4 million Michiganders (14% of the population) with disabilities, including those with ambulatory, cognitive, hearing, or vision disabilities
  • 694,185 Michiganders with disabilities (49% of the disability population) who are struggling financially
  • People with disabilities across the United States (18% below poverty line, additional 32% under ALICE limit)
  • Families and communities connected to people with disabilities

What action is being taken

  • The United Way is conducting ALICE analysis to estimate and track financial hardship among people with disabilities
  • The Michigan Association of United Ways is using the ALICE data to identify gaps and direct responses where needed most

Why it matters

  • This matters because it reveals that nearly half of Michigan's disability community faces financial insecurity, highlighting systemic barriers that make basic necessities like accessible housing, transportation, healthy food, and childcare difficult to obtain. The data demonstrates that traditional federal poverty measurements may underestimate the true extent of financial struggle, as many people earn above the poverty line but still cannot afford essential needs. Understanding the scope of this issue is crucial for directing resources and support to communities where people with disabilities, who are integral members of society, need assistance most.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com