More and more Americans are becoming 'ALICEs.' They can't afford rent and groceries but are falling through the cracks in the country's safety net.

• ALICE is an acronym for a group of Americans who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed.
• Most ALICEs earn too much to qualify for government assistance but not enough to afford daily life in the US.
• Their existence points to a gap in how the US measures who's struggling economically.

Imagine making just enough money at your job that you don't qualify for food stamps or disability payments, but not enough to afford rent and healthcare. That would make you an ALICE.