Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Poverty Has Jumped 69 Percent In SoCal Since 1990
Homeless people on a public sidewalk in Skid Row. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
()
There are about a million more people living in poverty in Southern California—69 percent more—than there were in 1990.
Those alarming stats come from a study put out by Southern California Association of Governments. The study based on census data looks at how poverty rates have changed from 1990 until 2012 in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties (basically, all the counties in SoCal except San Diego).
Back in 1990 (which wasn't exactly a banner year for the US economy), there were 1.9 million people living in poverty in those six counties. Now there are 3.2 million. Those rapidly increasing numbers can't be explained by a rise in the overall population alone—the number of people in poverty rose 69 percent, while the general population in those areas rose 26 percent.
Overall, 18 percent of people are living in poverty in those six counties. The worst off are Imperial County (23 percent) and San Bernardino County (20 percent). Kids are hit hard: one out of every four children in SoCal are living in poverty.
Support for LAist comes from
It sounds bleak, but these numbers based on federal guidelines for poverty this might actually be underselling just how bad it is in Southern California, the regional planning agency said. That's because the cost of living in California tends to be higher than in many other places around the country. A study released in September shows that Los Angeles County actually leads the state in poverty if you do take into account the cost of living.
The economy has improved since the recession but the pace has been "slow, uneven and inconsistent." The study estimates that Los Angeles County won't fully recover from job losses from the recession until 2020.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance. -
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
Best of LAist