California has highest poverty rate in the nation, Central Coast experts tackling issue locally

From the Golden State, to the poorest state, U.S. Census data shows California’s poverty rate is now 18.2 percent, only behind Washington D.C.

In 2018, the national average was 13.2 percent.

Experts point to cost of living as one of the reasons, and the Central Coast is no stranger to high rents.

“The county of San Luis Obispo has the distinction of being the sixth most expensive county for housing, relative to the income of its residents, in the nation,” said Director of Housing at the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO), Elaine Archer.

The agency is working to provide more affordable housing. The efforts include three projects currently in the works.

“One is Bishop Street Studios, which is in partnership with Transitions Mental Health,” said Archer. “And the second project that we’re working on is Courtyard at the Meadows, and that’s going to be 30 units in the new developments off Prado Road.”

The housing director says they’re working to provide housing for those transitioning from homelessness, as well.

“In 2017 we finished a project that was called 860 on the Wye, and it was 20 units that are affordable to veterans coming out of homelessness,” she said.

However, Archer shares even then, “that’s never enough. The last time we opened the waiting list for affordable housing, we received over 1,000 applications for 46 units.”

Archer says the average price for a 2-bedroom unit in SLO County is $1,657 a month.

“That means you would have to make $29 an hour to afford that place,” she said. “If you’re making minimum wage, it would take 3 wage earners in the family to be able to afford that 2-bedroom unit.”

In an effort to address some of these housing affordability concerns, lawmakers in Sacramento approved a statewide rent cap on Wednesday. The bill is sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.

The Hourglass Project is also fighting the poverty rate by fostering economic growth on the Central Coast.

CEO Melissa James says creating a vibrant economy depends on training and education.

“We look at the Northern Santa Barbara County region as a place that has been held back,” James said.

She points to the educational attainment in Santa Maria as one piece of evidence.

“Six out of every 10 residents have a high school diploma, but you look at the city of Santa Barbara or the city of San Luis Obispo, and that number is nine out of every 10.”

When it comes to a 4-year degree, James says 1 out 10 people in Santa Maria have a college degree. In contrast, 1 out of 2 have a college degree in San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara.

“There’s a big gap in education and opportunity for [Santa Maria] residents,” the Hourglass Project CEO said.

James says the organization is partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and city leaders to create a regional jobs plan with a list of initiatives for the region.

“That’s gonna be coming up this fall,” she said. “One of those [initiatives] is related to education and training for our workforce.”

It’s important to note the poverty rate dropped form 20.6 percent back in 2015, to 18.2 percent in 2018, according to U.S. Census data.