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Child Poverty in California

Child Poverty in California. Sarah Bohn Bay Area Early Childhood Funders February 20, 2014. Portions of this research supported by The Walter S. Johnson Foundation. Child poverty remains high, despite recent turnaround.

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Child Poverty in California

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  1. Child Poverty in California Sarah Bohn Bay Area Early Childhood Funders February 20, 2014 Portions of this research supported by The Walter S. Johnson Foundation

  2. Child poverty remains high, despite recent turnaround SOURCE: “Child Poverty” PPIC Just the Facts (2013) . And author’s calculations from Current Population Survey ASEC

  3. Poverty rates are relatively lower in the Bay Area SOURCE: Author’s calculations from Census Bureau, 2011 ACS

  4. Official statistics are lacking • Do not reflect many large-scale antipoverty programs • Have not been modified to reflect changes in the cost of living • National effort to design alternative measures began in 1990s • Census Bureau releases “Research Supplemental Poverty Measure” in 2011 • PPIC & CPI release “California Poverty Measure” in 2013

  5. The California Poverty Measure is more accurate and comprehensive • Family Resources = • cash income • + safety net benefits • – work & medical expenses • Threshold of basic needs = • food • + clothing • + utilities • + housing (varies by county)

  6. Most Californians live in high-cost areas Average poverty threshold (family of four) Official poverty threshold: $22,811 SOURCE: Bohn, Danielson, Levin, Mattingly, and Wimer (2013)

  7. Our measure finds more people of all ages in poverty SOURCES: Bohn et al. California Poverty Measure estimates for 2011; official poverty estimates from the California sample of the ACS (2011).

  8. Clear role for safety net in reducing child poverty SOURCE: California Poverty Measure estimates for 2011

  9. Overall, need-based programs cut the poverty rate sharply SOURCE: California Poverty Measure estimates for 2011.

  10. Overall, need-based programs cut the poverty rate sharply SOURCE: California Poverty Measure estimates for 2011

  11. A different regional picture based on the California Poverty Measure SOURCE: California Poverty Measure estimates for 2011.

  12. Our findings alter understanding of poverty • 8.1 million Californians in poverty • 2.2 million more than official estimates • Safety net resources substantially moderate the child poverty rate • Still, safety net resources offset by California’s higher cost of living and by nondiscretionary expenses

  13. Alleviating poverty 50 years after the war started • California, the “golden state,” ranks last • California Poverty Measure potential to • Better targeting those in need • Predict how changes will play out • Assess what works, and for whom • Poverty is really a problem of health, development, educational achievement, family formation, opportunity • A key to the puzzle: poverty transitions over a lifetime

  14. Further information www.ppic.org www.inequality.com Sarah Bohn 415-291-4413 bohn@ppic.org

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