The Great Recession officially ended several years ago and the overall economic recovery in our state has been robust, but too many California families continue to struggle each month. Communities hardest hit by the recession – including cities up and down the Central Valley – remain impoverished.
This uneven economic growth has left so many families behind. Nearly 1 in 4 Californians – more than 8 million – lived in poverty in 2013. This shameful rate, the highest among all states, includes 2 million children. Children who grow up in poverty tend to complete less education, experience more physical and mental health issues, have poorer nutrition and have fewer job prospects. Many kids who grow up poor stay poor as adults. Clearly, it benefits all Californians to address our state's appalling poverty rate.