The latest statistics indicate that 1 in 10 residents of San Diego live below the poverty line, with numbers reaching an unsettling 335,000. Citing a San Diego Foundation report, published today, it reveals that 86,000 children in the region are in poverty due largely to the region's high cost of living and inadequate pay. The findings also highlight that Black and Latino/a San Diegans are disproportionately affected, encountering significant disparities in wages, education, and health.
San Diego's postcard-perfect surroundings and cultural diversity mask a growing socioeconomic and racial divide. As pointed out in the report, the resultant poverty is fueled by high housing costs, disparities in education, and lack of quality health care, which are exacerbated by San Diego being one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the U.S.
To illustrate, almost 35% of San Diego's residents earn less than the self-sufficiency wage, while 38% spend over the recommended 30% income cap on housing. These struggles disproportionately affect Black residents, who experience poverty at twice the rate of their White counterparts.
Noticeable among the findings is the Higher Education and Skilled Worker Gap section of the San Diego Foundation report that indicates 42% of the 18-to-24 demographic are Latinos/as. However, they only make up 37% of those who have started college. This discrepancy shows that thousands of Latino/a youths are not obtaining the crucial bachelor's degrees needed to fill in the local skilled labor gap.
Significant health disparities further compound these problems, with the life expectancy for Black San Diegans averaging only 75 years, five years less than White residents. Even though these health inequities are not a recent phenomenon, they continue to persist.
In an attempt to mitigate these pressing social issues, the San Diego Foundation and its benefactors awarded an unprecedented $45 million to health and human services non-profit organizations during the fiscal year 2022-2023. According to Pamela Gray Payton, Chief Impact & Partnerships Officer at the San Diego Foundation, this effort while commendable, is insufficient. More resources are needed to mitigate the persistent disparities in San Diego County.
