Calif. Has High Rate of Poverty but Low Use of Nutrition Aid

Although 23.8% of California residents are living in poverty, the state has one of the lowest rates of using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which California calls CalFresh, according to a new Census Bureau report. The report, which is based on the American Community Survey, shows that in 2013, 1.2 million households, or 9.4% of all California households, reported using CalFresh benefits.

• "Despite High Poverty, Californians' Food Aid Use Is Low" (Walters, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 3/3).