A new report by United Ways of California reveals that a family of four needs $116,036 annually to cover the “real cost” of living in San Diego County.
Despite the six-figure sum, Pamela Gray Payton from the San Diego Foundation warns that this amount is insufficient for families to thrive in the area. The report highlights the financial strain faced by residents, who spend most of their income on housing, childcare, transportation, food and taxes, leaving little to no savings.
“You’re spending all of it, on housing child care, transportation, food, taxes, nothing left over. It’s hard to think if I make $120,000 I’m barely making it,” said Payton.
“Many families in San Diego County are struggling, with some having to live together to make ends meet or having one person stay home because they can’t afford child care,” said Nancy Sasaki, CEO of United Way of San Diego County.
“We have people who work hard.. demand for their labor, but market doesn’t put enough value on that. They don’t make enough, so how do we help them be more economically mobile in their skill development, training and education?” said California Senator Steve Padilla.
On Tuesday, policymakers, nonprofits and advocates convened in San Diego to discuss collaborative efforts to support struggling families. Many residents are working multiple jobs and experiencing toxic stress just to make ends meet.
Senator Padilla expressed concern that if current trends continue, economic disparity will worsen, potentially leading to a society divided between the wealthy and the working poor. He emphasized the need for economic mobility through skill development, training and education.
Advocates at the meeting stressed the importance of collaboration among lawmakers, private donors and nonprofits to ensure that hardworking San Diegans can live with dignity and peace of mind.
As San Diego faces increasing economic challenges, the call for collaborative solutions grows louder. The meeting underscored the urgent need to address the financial struggles of families in the county, aiming to create a more equitable future for all residents.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KSWB. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KSWB staff before being published.
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