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Many California Families Struggle to Afford a Basic Household Budget, Which Averages Nearly $76,000 a Year for a Family of Four With Two Working Parents

Income Inequality Widens Among Californians, New Census Figures Show

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The gap between Californians with low incomes and high incomes has grown wider, according to a new analysis by the California Budget & Policy Center that is based on data from the American Community Survey released Thursday by the US Census Bureau. This news comes even as the state’s official poverty rate slightly dropped to 12.8%. The Budget Center’s analysis points to key ways policymakers have the opportunity to break down barriers that keep Californians from being able to support themselves and their families.

More than 7 Million Californians Can’t Afford Basic Needs, New Census Figures Show

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Approximately 7.1 million Californians live in poverty and cannot afford to pay for basics, such as food and housing, according to a new analysis by the California Budget & Policy Center that is based on data released today from the US Census Bureau. The sate’s poverty rate remains high with 1 in 6 Californians struggling to make ends meet, according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure from the Census Bureau. The Supplemental Poverty Measure accounts for the cost of living as well as for the various resources a family may use to cover basic expenses, and may include noncash benefits like tax credits and food assistance.

Chris Hoene on the Governor’s May Revision: Emphasis on Bold Investments and Fiscal Resilience Continued but Opportunities Remain to Improve Well-Being for More Californians

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“Governor Newsom’s revised budget continues the bold investments he first proposed in January that are necessary to create economic opportunities for Californians . . . While we applaud the Administration’s emphasis on fiscal resilience, we see opportunities to further enhance the state’s fiscal standing and extend support to more Californians in need.”

Media Briefing Will Discuss New US Census Figures on Poverty and Health Coverage in California

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CALL FOR MEDIA ONLY: 1:00 P.M., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Next week, the US Census Bureau will release new national and state-level figures on poverty, income, health coverage, and other key topics. The California Budget & Policy Center will hold a call-in media-only briefing to discuss the new Census figures on Wednesday, September 12, at 1:00 p.m. This briefing will examine what the latest Census … Continued

Chris Hoene on the Governor’s Proposed Budget: Some Advances, but Room to Do More

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“In light of potential changes on the federal front and other uncertainties, there’s reason for caution. Still, as the Governor and the Legislature work to craft a final spending plan, there’s room in this budget to strike a better balance between putting funds away for later and boosting state investment now to help more households to make ends meet and climb the economic ladder, especially in light of our state’s highest-in-the-nation poverty rate.”

Many California Families Struggle to Afford a Basic Household Budget, Which Averages Nearly $76,000 a Year for a Family of Four With Two Working Parents

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SACRAMENTO — Despite strong economic growth and declining unemployment in California in recent years, many households across the state still face significant challenges in affording basic expenses, according to a new report from the California Budget & Policy Center. At the same time, the report underscores the important role that key public supports play in … Continued