California
State Government
Governor
Gavin Newsom (D)
State Senate
32
Democrats,
8
Republicans
State House
62
Democrats,
17
Republicans
Economic well-being - California
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
16.5
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.3
Poverty rate
11.8%
Unemployment rate
5.5
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
5.9
Housing - California
Home foreclosure rate
1 in 3407
People experiencing homelessness
187,084.0
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing
1,633,600.0
Percent renters
0.4
Poverty by demographic - California
Child poverty rate
0.2
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
251000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
192000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
1981000
Senior poverty rate
12.0 %
Women in poverty
19,461,027
The San Luis Obispo Tribune, March 24, 2012: Two Central Coast school districts fight achievement gap
"Two local school districts are missing the mark when it comes to meeting the achievement needs of low-income and minority students, according to a report issued by an education advocacy group this week. San Luis Coastal Unified and Lucia Mar Unified were the only two local school districts ranked in the study by the Oakland-based Education Trust-West."
Contra Costa Times, March 18, 2012: (Editorial) California universities need to be more cost effective
"There are several causes for the rapid rise in the cost of an education at California's public universities. The state has cut back dramatically its share of the costs. Also, cutting fees for low-income students, which we support, means that middle-income families that do not qualify for financial help must take on more of the burden."
Los Angeles Times, March 7, 2012: Elderly tenants sue landlord over online-only rent payments
"Tenants and a state senator are battling a requirement by a Los Angeles landlord that residents pay their rent online, alleging that a 'green' initiative introduced by the company is actually a pretense to evict low-income, elderly renters benefiting from rent-stabilization provisions."
Ventura County Star, March 7, 2012: (Editorial) How about a race to the middle?
"And what has been the most significant public response to date to that looming crisis of poverty among the elderly? It's been a backlash against the one class of workers that still retains definedbenefit pensions and a measure of retirement security - those who work in the public sector."
Los Angeles Times, March 6, 2012: Suspension figures called 'alarming'; Black students in L.A. are disciplined at a higher rate, data show
"Compared to other large school systems, low-income minority students are less likely to be taught by inexperienced teachers. Budget cuts that resulted in the layoff of less-experienced teachers in Los Angeles might be a contributing factor."
Bay City Times, February 24, 2012: Saginaw ranks 2nd for kids living in poverty
"Bay County ranked 25th of more than 60 Michigan counties in the report, with 5.7 percent of its youths living in impoverished communities. Genesee County ranked fourth with 23.9 percent; and Isabella County ranked eighth with 20.3 percent of its children living in high-poverty neighborhoods. Data for Midland County reflected no children living in impoverished areas."