blog post Californians’ Outlook Is Bleak as Low-Income Families Struggle By Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh Dec 16, 2020 Families with annual incomes of less than $40,000—about one in five California households—have been disproportionately affected by the current economic downturn, with the impact varying across regions.
blog post Pandemic-Era CalFresh Expansions Lifted Many Families Out of Poverty By Patricia Malagon, Tess Thorman May 2, 2023 Policy changes made during COVID broadened access to food assistance and increased benefit levels. We examine the impact on California families’ financial well-being.
blog post What to Watch for in Higher Education in 2024 By Olga Rodriguez, Kevin Cook Jan 29, 2024 With policymakers facing a sizeable state budget deficit, we highlight higher education issues to watch this year, including key opportunities and areas of concern.
blog post Helping Community Colleges Build on Progress during the Pandemic By Hans Johnson Feb 4, 2021 As higher education continues to confront the disruptions from COVID-19, Governor Newsom’s proposed state budget includes funding to help California community colleges boost access and retention and improve student outcomes.
blog post Federal Action—or Inaction—Will Shape California’s Recovery By Sarah Bohn, Dean Bonner, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Dec 10, 2020 State policymakers have many options for helping promote an equitable recovery from the current downturn. But federal policy choices will have an outsized impact on California’s workers and families, especially in the short term.
blog post Video: The Importance of CalFresh in Unstable Times By Mary Severance Sep 30, 2022 PPIC’s Tess Thorman and Caroline Danielson discuss recent research on CalFresh enrollment before and during the pandemic, participants’ ties to the workforce, and the program’s role in stabilizing family budgets.
blog post Supporting Financially Stressed College Students during COVID-19 By Kevin Cook Oct 29, 2020 With California college students facing educational and financial disruptions due to the pandemic, policymakers and campus officials are seeking ways to help students meet basic needs.
