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Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
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Health & Safety Net

Analyzing policies for reducing poverty and increasing well-being

photo - External Emergency Room and Ambulance
Report · September 2022

How Hospital Discharge Data Can Inform State Homelessness Policy

photo - Old Lady in Soup Kitchen Line
Fact Sheet · October 2022

Poverty in California

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Report · September 2022

The Role of CalFresh in Stabilizing Family Incomes

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Blog Posts

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photo - Nurses Talking with Patients in Waiting Room
March 1, 2023

As a Pandemic Medi-Cal Policy Ends, Some Californians Will Fall through the Cracks

Paulette Cha

photo - Man handing soup to a woman at a food bank
February 23, 2023

Poverty Varies across California’s Regions

Patricia Malagon

photo - Young woman with her child in a shelter
February 21, 2023

Homeless Populations Are Rising around California

Jennifer Paluch, Joseph Herrera

photo - Elderly Person's Hand Being Held
January 27, 2023

COVID-19’s Sobering Effect on Life Expectancy

Hans Johnson, Eric McGhee

Fact Sheets

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photo - Box of Food at Foodbank
March 2023

Income Inequality in California

Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Joseph Herrera

photo - Old Lady in Soup Kitchen Line
October 2022

Poverty in California

Caroline Danielson, Patricia Malagon, Sarah Bohn

photo - Adult Hand Holding Infant Hand
June 2022

Public Health Insurance in California

Paulette Cha

Interactives

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image - California Poverty by County and Legislative District - 2022 interactive
October 24, 2022

California Poverty by County and Legislative District

image - Who's in Poverty in California interactive
October 24, 2022

Who’s in Poverty in California?

Featured Blog Post · December 5, 2022

Investing in Schools to Address COVID-19’s Toll on Youth Mental Health

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Safety net programs kept more than 19.7% of children out of poverty in fall 2021.
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Schools were a key source of food for low-income families despite closures during the pandemic.
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At 13.7%, LA County has the highest poverty rate in the state; Central Valley and Sierra region have the lowest at 9.3%.
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California’s uninsured rate fell from 17% to 7% after the Affordable Care Act passed in 2014.
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More than 1/4 of Californians are living in or near poverty.
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66% Most California adults favor providing health care to undocumented immigrants.
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Nearly half of California children participate in CalFresh, CalWORKs, or both over their early years.
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64% Most poor families in California are working.
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Meet the Team

Sarah Bohn

Vice President of Research and Senior Fellow

Email 415-291-4413
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Paulette Cha

Research Fellow

Email 415-291-4479
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Caroline Danielson

Policy Director and Senior Fellow

Email 415-291-4462
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Patricia Malagon

Research Associate

Email 415-291-4463
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Shannon McConville

Research Fellow

Email 415-291-4481
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Shalini Mustala

Research Associate

Email 415-291-4453
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Tess Thorman

Research Associate

Email 415-291-4449
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