United Ways of California

New Report Finds That Three in Ten California Households Cannot Afford Basic Needs

United Way Study reveals extent to which poverty is grossly undercounted in California, where 2.9 million households are living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard.

Sacramento, CA - Three in ten California households lack enough income to cover "bare bones" living expenses, according to a report released today by United Ways of California. The report uses a Self-Sufficiency Standard which measures the actual cost of living in California, specific to each county, for housing, food and shelter, as well as the work-related costs of transportation, child care and taxes.

The complete report,"Overlooked and Undercounted 2009," commissioned by United Way of the Bay Area and conducted by the Center for Women's Welfare at the University of Washington, is available here:

View the Executive Summary
View the Full Report

ADVOCACY ALERT! CALL SENATORS BOXER AND FEINSTEIN TODAY!

The health reform bill passed by the House last month ends CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program – California’s Healthy Families) in 2013, putting the almost 650,000 children in Healthy Families into the “Exchange” with few benefits and cost-sharing protections. The Senate bill currently keeps CHIP until 2019 but includes no additional funding beyond 2013. What’s more, the current Senate bill leaves children and families open to significantly higher cost-sharing requirements and lower benefits protections than they currently receive under CHIP.

United States Senator Casey (PA) Protecting CHIP in Health Reform

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Real People

All California Kids Need Healthcare!

Kailani Burns, a preschool teacher who sees "kids coming into my classroom who are too sick to learn" knows from experience how hard it is to be the parents of these children.

"I will never forget what it was like for my child, who was two years old at the time, to be uninsured. For Leilah, a stumble, a fall - like any normal two year old - would take my breath away. Swim lessons? Going to the playground? I hated myself for not letting Leilah do all of these things that normal kids do, but I would go into debt if something happened."

United Ways in Action

Neighbors in Health Program Huge Success
Central Valley residents lacking basic health coverage were recently able to receive important preventive and medical care thanks to the annual Neighbor's in Health event sponsored by United Way of Stanislaus County, United Way of San Joaquin County and Kaiser Permanente. This year's event provided more than 8,000 medical services to 2,812 residents who do not have or cannot afford health insurance.

Real People

Priority Issues

United Ways in Action