Poverty

While Newsom is fond of touting California’s immense economic output, he rarely mentions its high rates of unemployment, poverty and homelessness, thanks largely to the state's high costs of housing, utilities and other necessities.

The Trump administration told states to provide the data by July 30 or risk losing federal funding to administer the program. This is California’s 35th suit against the Trump administration.

California is ending an experiment to raise juror pay in seven counties. It would would have encouraged moderate-income people to serve and helped diversify juries.

2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for legislation aimed at boosting new housing construction. Rental rights bills are facing an “uphill battle.”

A majority of California’s college students experience food insecurity. Some campuses are stepping up with innovative free meal programs.

California went from being a state with high economic mobility and opportunity to a society starkly separated by wealth, income and race.

Head Start staff and advocates launched a nationwide campaign to save the program, which Trump eliminated in his budget draft.

Across California, only one in five eligible college students receive CalFresh due to complicated requirements and an arduous application process. With two-thirds of students experiencing food insecurity, many campuses have started helping them apply for CalFresh.

The helpers need help. As federal funding for anti-hunger programs face major cuts, California faces its own $56 million chop in money it sends to food banks.

Democratic legislators this week acknowledged the need to bring down costs of living, days after Donald Trump's win the presidency largely on economic issues.