The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of California’s safety net, which helps millions of low-income adults and children meet basic needs. It has also highlighted disparities in health and economic well-being across racial/ethnic groups.
This publication is part of a briefing kit that focuses on California’s most pressing long-term policy challenges in five key areas:
Topics
Health & Safety Net PopulationLearn More
Blog Post · December 17, 2025
Testimony: Food Insecurity and the Nutrition Safety Net in California
Blog Post · December 11, 2025
New Federal Rules Could Limit CalFresh Benefits for a Large Number of Adults
Blog Post · March 20, 2025
Safety Net Programs Can Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students
Blog Post · January 29, 2025
Poverty Varies Widely across California’s Regions
Report · November 2023
Understanding the Reach of the California Earned Income Tax Credit
Blog Post · October 26, 2022
Steep Declines in Child Poverty Have Been Driven by Safety Net Programs
Blog Post · March 11, 2022
How Did the Pandemic Transform California’s Safety Net?
Report · June 2021
California’s Safety Net in Recession and Recovery
