The cost for basic needs in the Bay Area – such as rent, food, health care, child care, transportation, and taxes – has soared 18 percent in the last three years, according to the newly updated 2011 California Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Standard. The new Self-Sufficiency Standard was released today by the Insight Center for Community Economic Development in partnership with United Way.

During the same three years, wages have remained flat, increasing just 2%, while regional unemployment rates have increased 72%.  This has created a perfect storm for low-income families, preventing many from making ends meet.

“The Self-Sufficiency Standard has become a key tool for non-profits and government agencies – enabling us to more effectively assess and tackle poverty in our community,” said Anne Wilson, CEO of United Way of the Bay Area. “For example, our SparkPoint financial education centers use the Standard to coach clients to establish goals, pinpoint challenges, and identify training and education opportunities that will lead to a job that adequately pays for a family’s needs.”

“In addition, United Way used the Standard to help establish our goal to cut Bay Area poverty in half by 2020,” Wilson added. “The Self-Sufficiency Standard helps us identify how many families are struggling to make ends meet and what they need to earn to support their families.”

Read the press release, “Bay Area Cost of Living Soars 18% Since Recession Onset.”

Download statistics to see what it takes to get by in your county.

Are you ready to take action to fight poverty? JoinUnited Way’s MAKE IT BE movement on Facebook.

Local media coverage for the new Self-Sufficiency Standard:  

• San Francisco Chronicle – Making Ends Meet: With cost of living soaring and wages remaining stagnant, Bay Area families of working poor look for ways to keep up
• Contra Costa Times – Report: Bay Area cost of living up 18 percent since 2008
• Napa Valley Register – Report: Napa cost of living up 19 percent since 2008
• Marin Independent Journal – Report: cost of living rising sharply in Marin and Bay Area
• Times-Herald – Bay Area families struggling amid rising living costs
• The Reporter – Cost of living soars in Bay Area and Solano County
  

Last month, United Way gathered Bay Area community leaders at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco to explore opportunities to address poverty in our region.

The event began with an overview of United Way’s recent report, “Struggling to Make Ends Meet in the Bay Area,” which was followed by a panel discussion with audience participation.  This 8-minute video contains the highlights of the event.

The “Struggling to Make Ends Meet in the Bay Area” report can be downloaded at www.liveunitedca.org (pdf).