Overview
- The regional poverty rate rose from 12.2% to 16.3% in 2023, adding roughly 245,000 people below the poverty line.
- San Francisco recorded the highest county rate at 17.5%, representing the largest jump in the Bay Area.
- More than 1.8 million residents—nearly three in ten—cannot cover basic needs, according to the report.
- Household incomes grew 34% from 2016 to 2023 while living costs climbed 46% since 2021, including about a 17% increase in grocery prices.
- Poverty increased most for Black and Latino residents, Asian poverty also rose sharply, and report authors cite the rollback of benefits like CalFresh along with policy proposals on housing, childcare, training, and preserving the safety net.