Creating Healthy Communities / Reducing Poverty

Creating Healthy Communities / Reducing Poverty2025-02-04T01:33:17-08:00

Nearly one out of eight Californians live in poverty.1

Everyone has a right to live a healthy life with easy access to meet their basic needs. Some communities, however, have a higher risk of being in poverty from factors that are beyond their control, such as institutional and structural racism, discrimination, and reduced access to stable housing, healthy foods, and safe neighborhoods. Poverty can also limit an individual’s access to educational and employment opportunities, further contributing to income inequality and prolonging cyclical and generational effects of poverty. Poverty is associated with societal exclusion and higher prevalence of mental illness as well as higher rates of chronic diseases and premature death. Strategies to improve economic mobility of families may help alleviate the negative impacts of poverty and break the generational cycle of poverty.22

There are many ways to measure poverty. The California Poverty Measure (CPM) tracks the percentage of residents living in poverty, taking into account income, cost of living, and social safety net benefits.

Poverty

In the first quarter of 2023 (baseline time range), 13.2% of Californians lived in poverty. The most recent rate available is 13.2% (first quarter of 2023). The target is to be determined (TBD) for this indicator.

More Data about Poverty

Baseline

13.2%

Current Rate

13.2%

Target

TBD

Indicator Highlights

Data Snapshot: Trends & Disparities

Percent of Residents Living in Poverty Based on California Poverty Measure, by County and Legislative District

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Percent of Residents Living in Poverty Based on California Poverty Measure, by Demographic Category

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Indicator: Percentage of Residents Living in Poverty

Indicator Description: The California Poverty Measure (CPM), a joint research effort by PPIC and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, draws on administrative and survey data to deliver a more comprehensive measure of poverty. It accounts for the cost of living and a range of family needs and resources, including social safety net benefits. The California Poverty Measure incorporates the changes in costs and standards of living since the official poverty measure was devised in the early 1960s—and accounts for geographic differences in the cost of living across the state. It also factors in tax credits and in-kind assistance that can augment family resources and subtracts medical, commuting, and childcare expenses.

Data Limitations: https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/1023cdf-appendix.pdf

Indicator Source: Public Policy Institute of California and Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, Poverty in California – Public Policy Institute of California

Indicator Calculation Methodology: https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/1023cdf-appendix.pdf

Data Collection Methodology: https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/1023cdf-appendix.pdf

Program URL Link:

Poverty in California – Public Policy Institute of California

https://www.ppic.org/interactive/california-poverty-by-county-and-legislative-district/

Reporting Cycle: Quarterly

1. Public Policy Institute of California. (2023). Poverty in California. Retrieved on December 11, 2024. https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/JTF_PovertyJTF.pdf

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health. (2018). Healthy People 2030. Social Determinants of Health Literature Summaries: Poverty. Retrieved on December 11, 2024. Poverty – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

Stories & Solutions

Social Determinants of Health

What Are Social Determinants of Health? The social determinants of health are the conditions in which we live, learn, work, and play.1 These conditions include a broad range of socioeconomic and environmental factors, such as air and water quality, the quality of the built environment (e.g., housing quality; land [...]

Food Security

How can we provide access to nutritious food for the 5.4 million Californians who experience food insecurity?

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