News Advisory: New Data on California Poverty Rates by Month to be Released at UCR Online Event on Thursday, December 10th

Research scientist Dr. Zach Parolin will present poverty rate data, then be joined by GSO President Amy Everitt and others for Blum Initiative panel discussion

SAN FRANCISCO — This Thursday, Golden State Opportunity President Amy Everitt will join Dr. Zach Parolin and other policy leaders and experts to discuss brand new estimates of the California poverty rate during the pandemic and policy tools that would help Californians make it through these tough times and also fight poverty in the future.

After making news for his national monthly poverty rate estimates, Dr. Parolin has measured California’s March – October 2020 monthly poverty rates for the first time. Prior to the pandemic, California had one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. Today, with federal CARES Act assistance no longer available and the economic impact of the pandemic resulting in one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation — combined with ongoing issues with the State Employment Development Department paying out unemployment benefits — California’s poverty rate may be even higher. 

The research will shed light on the efficacy of state and federal efforts to prevent poverty during the coronavirus crisis. Dr. Parolin’s national poverty estimates found that about 4 more million people were in poverty by September 2020 than the beginning of the year. He and his team also found that government interventions like the CARES Act were only briefly effective, lowering the national poverty rate in April and May.  

Following the presentation, Amy Everitt will join a panel discussion on policy tools needed to provide relief for Californians.

This event is co-sponsored by the Blum Initiative on Global & Regional Poverty and Golden State Opportunity.

Dr. Zach Parolin, Post-doctoral Research Scientist, Columbia University’s Center for Poverty and Social Policy
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County District 4
Amy Everitt, President, Golden State Opportunity
Toni Symonds, Chief Consultant, California State Assembly Committee on Jobs,
Economic Development, and the Economy
Moderator Dr. David Brady, Professor of Public Policy, Director of the Blum Initiative on Global & Regional Poverty, UC Riverside

WHAT: “California Poverty During COVID-19” Presentation and Q&A

WHERE: Zoom

WHEN: THURSDAY, December 10, 2020 at 11:00 AM