"The Stanford Center on Early Childhood recently reported that three in four California families with young children can't cover at least one basic need, such as food, housing, utilities, child care or health care - the highest level of families experiencing material hardship since the center began its RAPID survey in 2022. The findings come on the heels of a report from Tipping Point Community that the Bay Area's poverty rate climbed over 4 percentage points after a decade of steady decline."
"And it's not just low-income families who are feeling the pinch. In July, 86% of middle-income families reported having difficulty meeting a basic need, according to the RAPID survey. A higher percentage of parents in rural areas faced material hardship (93%) than parents in urban and suburban areas (72%). A separate RAPID survey found that an increasing number of child care providers nationwide are experiencing hunger. Nearly 45% of child care providers reported experiencing hunger between June 2021 and May of this year."
Three in four California families with young children cannot cover at least one basic need such as food, housing, utilities, child care or health care, per the RAPID survey. The Bay Area poverty rate rose over four percentage points after a decade of decline. In July, 86% of middle-income families reported difficulty meeting a basic need; rural parents faced material hardship at 93% versus 72% in urban and suburban areas. Nearly 45% of child care providers experienced hunger between June 2021 and May, and that figure rose to 58% in June. Parents reported elevated anxiety, depression and stress, which can harm child development. Parents of young children often earn less and face higher costs for child care or providing care themselves.
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