People of color, renters and children among most affected, as child poverty more than doubles since 2021

A new report shows California has the highest poverty rate in the US, alongside Louisiana, and rates have shown little improvement.

Despite the abundant wealth in the state – more billionaires live in California than anywhere else in the US – in 2024 about 7 million people, or 17.7% of residents, could not afford to cover their basic needs. In 2021, California’s poverty rate reached a historic low of 11%, but as pandemic-era policies came to an end, rates surged in the state and across the US, according to the report from the California Budget and Policy Center released last week.

  • TheRealKuni@piefed.socialEnglish
    1·
    6 hours ago

    Our state is not some shining beacon of liberalism, but fucked by capitalism just like everywhere else.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but those aren’t contradictory. Liberalism is fucked by capitalism, right?

    • TotallynotJessica@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      No, you’re 100% right, but people who think California is good tend to think liberalism isn’t a justification for an empire to serve the wealthy.