In San Diego County, many families work hard and still struggle to afford the basics. Rent, food, childcare, transportation and healthcare costs continue to rise, while many household budgets grow tighter. For thousands of local families, one unexpected bill or lost benefit can quickly turn a difficult month into a crisis.
At United Way of San Diego County and 211 San Diego, we see this clearly in the data. The Real Cost Measure looks at what it takes for families in this region to meet basic needs. It shows that 31% of households in San Diego County do not earn enough to make ends meet, and that 97% of households below that threshold have at least one working adult. A family of four in San Diego County requires an annual income of $116,036 to cover essentials.
At 211 San Diego, we hear these struggles every day. We hear from neighbors trying to keep food on the table, stay housed, find a job paying a livable wage, maintain health coverage, and figure out what help is available. 211 San Diego answers calls 24 hours a day, every day, in more than 200 languages, and connects individuals and families to more than 6,000 services and resources. In 2025, we responded to more than 500,000 calls seeking support. For families navigating stressful, complex systems, trusted connection matters.
These numbers reveal a common reality of living in San Diego and tell a more accurate picture than outdated poverty measures. Financial hardship transcends employment status. It affects working parents, caregivers and older adults who are doing everything they can to survive. In one of the most expensive regions in the country, too many families are one setback away from falling behind.
Connection matters even more as the system grows harder to navigate. Under H.R.1, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which was signed into law on July 4, 2025, access to government benefits is becoming more challenging.
Work requirements are changing for SNAP (known in California as CalFresh) on June 1, and for Medicaid (known in California as Medi-Cal) on Jan. 1, 2027, impacting thousands of residents. For families already struggling, these changes add barriers to access and layers of complexity — increasing paperwork, creating uncertainty, raising the risk of losing food or healthcare support.
When families lose benefits or face new barriers, their need does not disappear. It shifts. Parents turn to food banks when CalFresh falls short, and seniors rely on community programs when health coverage declines. Families in crisis often seek help from nonprofits, schools and local service providers already under strain. This is not just about individual hardship. It is about the strength and resilience of our region’s safety net.
That is why both immediate help and long-term strategy matter. United Way uses data and partnerships to understand need and build lasting solutions. 211 is a trusted front door for those needing help combining data with strong community infrastructure offering information and direct connections to food, housing, health resources, utility help and more, while gathering real-time data about needs and available services.
One helps us understand the scale of the challenge. The other helps us see how that challenge continues to evolve as families navigate it in real time. Together, these efforts show that too many San Diegans are being stretched beyond what is sustainable, and our region must respond with urgency.
Our region’s high cost of living is not just hurting family budgets; it affects kids’ learning, people’s ability to work, and the region’s future. When working families fall deeper into instability, everyone feels it. When nonprofits are forced to absorb rising demand without support, the region becomes more fragile.
We need policymakers, employers, community leaders and residents to recognize what it truly costs to live here, and to protect the programs that help families meet basic needs. Most of all, we need to remember that data tells a story. Behind every number is a person or a family, trying to stay housed, healthy, and care for the people they love.
If you or someone you know needs help finding food, housing, health care or other support, dial 2-1-1. And if we want a stronger San Diego County, we must ensure working families are not left to navigate this challenge alone and that they have urgent, vital resources and opportunities for long-term success.
Rachael Orose is president and CEO of United Way of San Diego County. William York is president and CEO of 211 San Diego.
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