Poverty In Our Community

A Hard Look at Poverty in our Community

In San Diego, poverty is a significant issue affecting approximately 11% of the county's residents, which amounts to around 335,000 people living below the federal poverty line of $24,860 annually for a family of four. The San Diego Economic Equity Report highlights disparities in the region, revealing challenges such as insufficient wages, limited access to higher education, and disparities in health outcomes among different racial groups. The report emphasizes the need for more resources to create just, equitable, and resilient communities ❶ ❷ ❸. Deep poverty, defined as households living below 50% of the established poverty threshold, affects around 5.1% of the population in San Diego County. While the overall poverty rate in San Diego may seem low compared to other areas, there are pockets of severe concentrated poverty within the county that require attention to achieve health equity ❷.

The main causes of poverty in San Diego include insufficient wages, limited access to higher education, disparities in health outcomes among different racial groups, and the high cost of living. Nearly 35% of San Diego County residents struggle to make self-sufficient wages, with 38% spending more than the recommended maximum of 30% of their income on housing. Disparities are evident across various areas, such as wages and housing affordability, higher education, health equity, and immigration ❶ ❷ ❸. Factors contributing to poverty include the lack of affordable housing, limited educational opportunities leading to a skilled worker gap, and disparities in health outcomes among different demographic groups ❹ ❺. Addressing poverty in San Diego is crucial not only for economic stability but also for achieving health equity and creating just, equitable, and resilient communities ❶ ❺.