Assets
Asset poverty rate: 23.7%
Average college graduate debt: $5,112
Unbanked households: 7.4%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 6%
Food insecurity: 10.2%
Minimum wage: $13.00
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 196,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 1,417,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 7.7%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 13.8%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 28%
Poverty rate: 11.8%
Unemployment rate: 4.1%
Education
High school graduation rate: 83%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 82.4%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 44%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 34.2%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 6%
Family
Children in foster care: 51,268
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18: 1,094,696
Percent of children in immigrant families: 46%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 33%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 12.4%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 0.34%
People experiencing homelessness: 161,548
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 1,684,500
Percent renters: 45%
Total housing units: 14,392,140
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 310
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 4,131
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 675,304
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 1,910,000
EITC recipients: 2,800,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 77,700
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 526,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 223,131
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 5,036,629
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 880,923
Participants in all Head Start programs: 90,012
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 16%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: 213,000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 214,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 2,724,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 25%
Senior poverty rate: 10.5%
Women in poverty: 12.7%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key California policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports