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CalMattersThe average poor working adult in California makes $28,000 annually — barely enough to pay for rent, food, and bills.
Federal and state aid helped buoy millions of families nationwide during the pandemic, but many people have slipped back into poverty now that those aid programs have ended, according to a recent study by the Public Policy Institute of California.
As Alejandra Reyes-Velarde of CalMatters’ California Divide team explains, the state’s poverty rate climbed in the first quarter of 2023 — increasing from 11.7% in 2021 to 13.2% — despite an improving economy. That brings the total to about 5 million people in California living in poverty.
Related Story: Despite California’s Immense Wealth, Millions Remain Mired in Poverty
The report also showed how poverty rates varied by demographic, occupation, and region:
One of the reasons why different regions experience different poverty rates is the cost of living. Poor Californians in counties with higher costs of living may earn incomes that render them ineligible for aid that’s based on federal poverty thresholds — but still extremely poor for where they live.
Learn more about the latest number on California’s poverty rates at this link.
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