Nearly Two of Every Ten People In Los Angeles County Are Poor

No wonder why our County has such high numbers of people struggling with homelessness… When 20% of our population are battling poverty, it’s a sad fact that almost 1% of our population are homeless.

Median income is reducing, while cost of housing and other living expenses are soaring. People can’t afford to live in our community—and we are not talking Beverly Hills, here. We are talking about the whole County of Los Angeles.

The Public Policy Institute of California recently published a study on poverty in California that revealed these sad facts.

The Institute For The Study of Homelessness and Poverty published some of their selected findings:

· 16.1% of Californians lived in poverty in 2004 using the adjusted poverty measure, compared to the official rate of 13.3%.

· The adjusted poverty rate for LA County was 18%, compared to 15% under the official rate.

· The 2004 median income (adjusted for inflation) for the poorest ten percent decreased 12% since 1969.

· Poor California households with a full time worker increased from 12% to 31% from 1969 to 2004.

· The 2004 median income (adjusted for inflation) for the richest ten percent increased 59% since 1969.

· The adjusted poverty rate for California seniors was 14% compared to the official rate of 9%.