SAN DIEGO — A new study by the United Way of California reveals that nearly one-third of households in San Diego County are not earning enough to cover their basic needs, with the actual cost of living far exceeding federal poverty guidelines.
The report, which examines expenses such as housing, food, childcare and transportation, found that a family of four in San Diego County, with a preschooler and a school-age child, requires over $116,000 annually to meet essential costs.
“And most of these families are really making around $67,000,” said Nancy Sasaki, President and CEO of the United Way of San Diego County. “They’re almost $50,000 short of what it really takes to be able to survive and really thrive in San Diego County.”…