Nishi Nair (she/her/hers)
Policy Analyst
Nishi, Policy Analyst, conducts research on public policies related to economic security and the people served by various safety net programs. Her current work focuses on cash assistance programs, including state and federal tax credits, as well as on programs serving older adults and Californians with disabilities. Nishi’s research aims to identify how public programs can better serve communities and proposes solutions to strengthen them.
Before joining the Budget Center in 2024, Nishi received bachelor’s degrees in sociology and economics from the University of California, Davis with a focus on social work and public policy. During her time there, she also completed an Honors Research Thesis where she analyzed the budgetary shifts in the supplemental income program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Nishi is a proud Bay Area native, growing up in the East Bay and enjoys trying to find the best hikes, thrift stores, and hot yoga studios in the area! She also values time spent with her friends and family, and is always looking for ways to find community.
meet the expert: nishi nair
Read more about Nishi's story and the work she's doing at the Budget Center in our Q&A.
Recent posts by Nishi Nair
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Report
Will Prop. 37 Make Homeownership More Affordable? It’s Not Guaranteed
key takeaway Proposition 37 on the November 2026 ballot would establish a “middle-class” homebuyer downpayment assistance program, funded with up to $25 billion in revenue bonds. This assistance could only be used to purchase newly built homes or newly created housing units converted from nonresidential buildings, where the buyer is the first purchaser. The program …Ballot PropositionsHousing & Homelessness -
Fact Sheet
Medi-Cal Asset Limit Would Force Seniors and People with Disabilities into Poverty
key takeaway California’s proposed Medi-Cal asset limit would force seniors and people with disabilities to spend down modest savings in order to keep health coverage and in-home care services, increasing the risk of housing instability, financial insecurity, and poverty. The governor’s May Revision proposes decreasing the current Medi-Cal asset limit from $130,000 to just $2,000 …HealthMedi-Cal -
Fact Sheet
Young Californians Face Alarmingly High Rates of Poverty and Deep Poverty
key takeaway Young adults across California face higher-than-average poverty and deep poverty rates as they transition into adulthood, underscoring the need to strengthen core basic needs programs and investments that help young Californians achieve economic stability and meet their basic needs. Young adulthood is a crucial time to establish independence and start to build financial …CalFreshMedi-CalPoverty & Inequality -
Data Hit
Average Periods of Unemployment Last Twice As Long As New H.R. 1 SNAP Time Limits
CalFresh is California’s state version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides modest monthly assistance to Californians with low incomes to purchase food, but the program has been significantly eroded by federal leaders. In addition to the devastating funding cuts to food assistance and health care enacted by the 2025 Republican megabill, …CalFreshSafety Net -
Data Hit
California is Estimated to Spend Over $9 Billion on Tax Breaks for Corporations
Millions of Californians are struggling to make ends meet and the affordability crisis continues to drive up the cost of basic necessities like groceries and rent. Simultaneously, the 2025 Republican megabill — H.R.1 — is further straining the budgets of low-income households, by making unprecedented cuts to health care and food assistance, and giving out …Safety NetTaxes & Revenue
