More Residents Relying on Public Assistance Programs, Study Finds
A study released Monday by the nonpartisan California Budget Project found that state residents increasingly are relying on public assistance programs, including government-funded health care, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
According to the report, tens of thousands are turning to government-funded health care because of job losses and a decrease in employer-sponsored benefits.
The state's unemployment rate reached 8.4% in November, affecting more than 1.6 million people (de Sá, San Jose Mercury News, 12/22).
The increased reliance on public assistance programs comes as California policymakers propose significant cuts to health and human services programs to help close the state budget deficit (Robertson, San Francisco Business Times, 12/22).
Jean Ross, executive director of CBP, said, "As policymakers work to solve California's fiscal crisis, they should be mindful that we're in an economic downturn where it's more important than ever that California retain a strong safety net for those in need" (Walters, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 12/22).
The CBP report is available online (.pdf).
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