While the current economic crisis is garnering front page attention, the reality is that many of L.A. County’s residents have been grappling with a poverty crisis that began long before now. Changing social and economic trends over the last twenty years have given rise to three critical issues, which have put our community under great strain: rampant homelessness and lack of affordable housing, a crisis in education and the growth of the working poor. For instance, did you know that:
- In 2007, over 583,000 people in L.A. County lived in extreme poverty.
- Extreme poverty means a family of four earning less than $10,600 a year.
- More people live in extreme poverty in L.A. County than the total population of Seattle, Miami or Las Vegas.
United Way’s new research brief highlights the depth of the current crisis for people who are living in extreme poverty, and offers some recommendations.
Please also feel free to let send us know any thoughts or input you might have by emailing unitedway@unitedwayla.org.