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 Associated Press, December 15, 2011: Calif. school districts decry end to busing funds
"Representatives of the California School Boards Association and Association of California School Administrators said they are considering joining the lawsuit because it will adversely affect low-income districts the most, as well as disabled pupils who must travel to special programs."
Los Angeles Times, December 13, 2011: 2 charters let families avoid lottery
"Los Feliz Charter, which quickly became a destination for middle-class families via word of mouth, is unlike the neighborhood school, Los Feliz Elementary, in many ways. Los Feliz Elementary is composed entirely of low-income families; 44% of students are listed as English learners. Los Feliz Charter has 28% low-income students and 6.5% English learners, amid ongoing recruiting efforts to diversify. (Larchmont's demographics are similar, its recruiting has boosted low-income families to 42%.)"
The Merced Sun-Star, December 7, 2011: Merced Adult School students help feed homeless
"For seven years, the Merced Adult School students have been preparing lunches for people at Merced County's homeless shelter at 15th and D streets. Up to 75 meals are provided about once every eight weeks."
The Associated Press, November 18, 2011: Calif. health centers for seniors to stay open
"'The settlement ensures that even in these challenging economic times, critical community-based services will be preserved, and low-income seniors and people with disabilities will avoid unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization,' Gershon said."
Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2011: Relief from No Child Left Behind too expensive, state officials say
"It would cost cash-strapped California at least $2 billion to meet the requirements for relief from the federal No Child Left Behind law, state officials reported Wednesday to the California Board of Education."
Los Angeles Times, November 5, 2011: Where poor students soar
"The San Fernando Valley campus, in a working-class pocket of North Hills, was singled out by Los Angeles Unified Supt. John Deasy in a conversation we had last month about whether low-income, Latino students in this district are doomed to mediocrity."