Numerator: Number of families below poverty level in California

Denominator: Total number of families in California

Definition: Poverty status in the past 12 months of families

We want to reduce the percentage of families living below the Federal Poverty Level as part of our efforts to ensure that all California parents are ready and empowered to parent.

In California, the percentage of individuals living below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) continues to decline from a high of 12.3% in 2014 to a low of 9% in 2020. This trend is lower than the national average of 13%. The effects of poverty are significantly mitigated by safety net programs (source). In 2021, approximately 4,733,000 Californians lived in poverty.

The FPL is calculated by multiplying the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “economy food plan” by three, based on data collected in the 1950s that found that food costs approximated one-third of a family's budget. Today, food comprises far less than one-third of a family’s expenses, while housing, transportation, and child care costs have grown disproportionately (source). Therefore, individuals living below the Federal Poverty Level will struggle to meet their basic needs.

Internal partners:

• Health and Human Services Agency 
• EDD - Unemployment Insurance 

External partners: 

• Community Based Organizations

Effective anti-poverty programs should:

• Build assets;
• Promote early childhood development;
• Support disadvantaged youth;
• Build skills; and
• Improve the safety net and work supports.

Sources: Brookings Institute, Ford Foundation

In 2018, AB 1520, (Chapter 415, Statutes of 2017) was enacted which established Lifting Children and Family Out of Poverty Task Force.  AB 1520 called for the development of comprehensive strategies aimed at addressing deep child poverty and reducing child poverty in California and established the Task Force to accomplish this task. The Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force Report provided lawmakers, government and communities with recommended strategies to address child poverty in California.

CDPH Programs aimed to reduce poverty:

California Home Visiting Program (CHVP)

Adolescent Family Life Program (AFLP)