Debt - CalMatters

Maybelle Manio, right, and her son, Jake Cruz at their new apartment in San Mateo on Oct. 4, 2021. They moved into the new place in August. Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group

California Divide

‘I don’t recognize myself anymore’; How the pandemic drowned a working mom in debt

by Jesse Bedayn November 2, 2021November 2, 2021

Commercial real estate agent Maybelle Manio is one of many middle-class Californians who found themselves financially stranded by the pandemic. The 42-year-old commercial real estate agent turned to public support for the first time in her life.

A customer inside a loan agency, ACE Cash Express, in Wilmington on July 28, 2021. Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

Payday loans dropped during pandemic, but Californians are ‘not out of the woods’

by Erika Paz July 29, 2021August 2, 2021

Will Hollman with his son outside of his home in the San Fernando Valley. "I love my kids and it is my duty to be a parent," Hollman said. "I'm fighting a lot of battles." Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

Unpaid utility bills? California will pay off $2 billion to avoid shutoffs

by Jackie Botts July 19, 2021September 9, 2021

Graciela Gomez looks out the window from her boyfriend's home in South Gate. "One Sunday I'm home and I get served," Gomez said. "One of the credit card companies had sued me." Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

California Divide

California may move to regulate booming debt settlement industry

by Erika Paz July 6, 2021July 7, 2021

California Divide

Legislature looks to halt child support debt collections — only for some

by Nigel Duara and Kate Cimini June 25, 2021June 25, 2021

Gabriel Lopez stands for a portrait at his work at Homeboy Industries in Boyle Heights on April 19, 2021. Photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

California Divide

Stimulus, unemployment checks help child support debt collection hit new high

by Kate Cimini June 17, 2021June 17, 2021

Stacy Estes in front of his home in Sacramento on April 7, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

California Divide

California keeps millions in child support while parents drown in debt

by Kate Cimini May 3, 2021May 28, 2021

A sea of homes are photographed from Bayview Park in San Francisco, on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Photo by David Rodrigues, The Salinas Californian

California Divide

Small landlords left struggling when renters stop paying

by Kate Cimini March 17, 2021March 17, 2021

PG&E power lines are photographed in Fremont, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. Photo by Anda Chu, Bay Area News Group

Debt

Here’s why your electricity prices are high and soaring

by Laurence Du Sault March 12, 2021March 15, 2021

California Divide

With raffles, food sales and fundraisers, Latinos do their best to avoid debt

by Araceli Martinez Ortega February 18, 2021February 19, 2021