Poverty Rates Spike in California as Pandemic Aid Expires, Hitting Black and Latino Families Hardest

Poverty rates in California increased sharply in 2022, with child poverty more than doubling. Researchers attribute this to the expiration of pandemic relief programs.

The rise in poverty disproportionately affected Black and Latino Californians. The Black poverty rate nearly doubled while the Latino rate rose from 12.6% to 21.6%.

Nationally, the Census Bureau and Columbia University also found steep increases in poverty after changes to pandemic policies like the expanded Child Tax Credit.

Experts debate the accuracy of poverty measurements. Some say data overlooks the full range of aid poorer families receive. Others defend the supplemental poverty measure as comprehensive.

With federal action stalled, California leaders are experimenting with guaranteed income programs to provide small monthly cash payments to low-income residents.