According to a report from a local think tank released this week, 100,000 more San Diegans fell into economic hardship between 2007 and 2009. These numbers came from the latest census data.
Transcript
This is a rush transcript created by a contractor for KPBS to improve accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Please refer to the media file as the formal record of this interview. Opinions expressed by guests during interviews reflect the guest’s individual views and do not necessarily represent those of KPBS staff, members or its sponsors.
ACCORDING TO A A REPORT FROM A LOCAL THINK TANK, 100 MILLION MORE SAN DIEGANS FELL INTO HARDSHIP BETWEEN 2007 AND 2009. THE POVERTY RATE WITH CHILDREN GREW BY 30%. WE VISITED ONE OF THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANKS TO FIND OUT WHAT SUPPORT IS OUT THERE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED. HERE IS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SPRING VALLEY.
THIS IS AN AMERICAN THING. THIS IS NOT A WELFARE THING. THIS IS NOT A CHARITY THING. PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK.
JUST THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY. SOMEBODY SAW THE DOOR OPEN AND THEY CAME IN AND ASKED FOR FOOD. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO. LAST YEAR, WE SERVED ABOUT 1200 HOMES FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. TO DATE, WE ARE AT ABOUT 2600 HOMES. WE ARE NOT FINISHED WITH THE YEAR YET. IT IS GOING UP. EVERY DAY IT IS GOING UP MORE. THE NEED IS BIG. PEOPLE ARE FINDING OUT ABOUT US.
BASICALLY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOOD. WE HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FOR A WHILE. WE ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE. NOW WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK FOR WORK, WHICH IS ALSO A STRUGGLE. I FEEL EVERY BIT HELPS.
IT IS MOSTLY FAMILIES. WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS. IT IS MOSTLY FAMILIES. BECAUSE OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE COME HERE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I NEED HELP WITH FOOD. I DON'T HAVE ANY FOOD RIGHT NOW FOR MY KIDS. I HAVE THREE OF MY OWN AND THREE STEP KIDS. I LOST MY HOUSE AND I LOST EVERYTHING. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A JOB. IT IS HARD.
A LOT OF TIMES IT IS ONE PARENT WORKING AND THE OTHER NOT. THEY BUY THE FOOD THE BEST THEY CAN. IT DOESN'T CARRY THEM FOR THE FULL MONTH. BECAUSE IT IS AN EMERGENCY, WE GIVE THEM ENOUGH UNTIL THEY GET THEIR NEXT CHECK. I FEEL COMPASSION FOR THEM. I REALIZE THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM AND ME IS VERY SMALL. ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS NOT GETTING A PAYCHECK FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS AND I WOULD BE IN THE SAME POSITION.
JOINING ME TO ANALYZE THE REPORT AND TALK ABOUT WHY SO MANY SAN DIEGANS ARE LIVING IN FINANCIAL FINANCE --FINANCIAL HARDSHIP IS TERESA CONYERS. THE NUMBERS I HEAR IS 1 IN 8 SAN DIEGAN IS LIVING IN POVERTY. WE TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE CLASS FALLING INTO POVERTY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO LIVE IN RELATIVE COMFORT IN COMMUNITIES LIKE CARLSBAD AND VISTA AND PARTS OF SAN DIEGO ARE NOW FINDING IT DIFFICULT, NOT ONLY TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOMES, BUT TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. TO CLOTHE THEIR CHILDREN AND TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE.
THE INTERESTING THING IS THE NORTH COUNTY TIMES PAPER YOU WORK FOR SERVES AN AREA THAT WE GENERALLY THINK OF AS MORE AFFLUENT THAN THE CITY OF SOUTH BAY. WHAT DO THE NUMBERS SAY ABOUT THE NORTH COUNTY?
THE NUMBERS SAY OVERALL THAT NORTH COUNTY IS BETTER OFF THAN THE REST OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY. IT SAYS NORTH COUNTY HAS TAKEN A HIT. WHAT IS CURIOUS IS THE CITY OF CARLSBAD SAW AN INCREASE IN ITS POVERTY LEVEL. THERE ARE SOME INDICATIONS THAT THE HOUSING MARKET AND THE DIFFICULTIES THERE HAVE HIT HARD FOR PEOPLE IN CARLSBAD.
EVEN PEOPLE LIVING IN HIGH- END HOMES.
PEOPLE HOLDING UPPER INCOME JOBS AND EARNING OR WERE EARNING A GOOD LIVING ARE FEELING THE PINCH OF FOLKS IN COMMUNITIES LIKE VISTA AND NATIONAL CITY.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE EARNED $200,000 LAST YEAR.
THESE ARE STOCKBROKERS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES. THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND COUNTED ON THE TWO-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND ARE FINDING THAT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO RIGHT NOW.
AND USING THE FOOD BANKS.
USING THE FOOD BANKS AND LOOKING FOR FOOD STAMPS. HAVING TO GO AND SEEK HELP FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES.
POVERTY HAS SEEMED TO ACCELERATED IN SAN DIEGO. I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT IS BECAUSE WE LIVE IN SUCH AN EXPENSIVE COMMUNITY.
WE DO LIVE IN AN EXPENSIVE COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENT POVERTY LEVEL THAT SAYS IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL YOU ARE LIVING IN POVERTY IF YOU MAKE $11,000. IF YOU ARE A FAMILY OF FOUR MAKING $22,000, YOU ARE LIVING IN POVERTY. THAT MEDIAN INCOME IN THAT AREA IS $60,000. YOU HAVE THE TREMENDOUS GAP FOR THE MEDIAN INCOME. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOVE THAT. THE MEDIAN INCOME AND THE POVERTY LEVEL FALLS, YOU HAVE AN ENORMOUS GAP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU ARE WELCOME.
