Building a Thriving San Francisco
Welcome to our page dedicated to San Francisco County, a dynamic and diverse community where innovation meets social responsibility. As the heart of the Bay Area, San Francisco County is a hub of cultural, economic, and technological advancement. However, an urgent need to address disparities and ensure equitable access to opportunities for all residents persists.
We are committed to promoting equity and social justice in San Francisco County. Through this page, we aim to provide you with valuable data and insights that shed light on the specific challenges faced by our San Francisco community and the initiatives we undertake to create positive change. From affordable housing and homelessness prevention to education and workforce development, we work collaboratively to support individuals and families to strengthen the fabric of the city.
When hard times hit, Jesse—like many in the Bay Area—struggled to find well-paying work. Soon he and his family couldn’t afford rent on their place in Hayward. They were staying in a homeless shelter when Jesse visited his local family resource center and saw a flyer for SparkPoint.
A cornerstone of United Way Bay Area’s poverty-fighting efforts, SparkPoint offers low-income individuals and families free one-on-one financial and career coaching and education to help them build brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Working with his financial coach, Jesse began taking steps to get his finances in order and rebuild his credit.
“I thought credit was just for rich people, wasn’t for people like us, people from the hood.”
Jesse’s finances began to improve but he still struggled to find work until his coach told him: “If you can’t find work, just make your own job.” Jesse took those words to heart and soon started his own catering business, Tita’s Tacos, named after his wife with whom he runs the business.
“Just having that financial coach really helped.”
A typical family of four would need $127,332 to meet basic needs in San Francisco. The median income for SF residents is $119,136.
The top 5% make an average of $800,000, compared with $16,000 for the lowest 20%.
More than 17,250 households are behind on rent with average of $8,400 rent debt per household (total $145 million).
(Free tax preparation for anyone who needs it)
Free Tax Help has helped provide 15.6 million in refunds back into the pockets of San Francisco County residents.
(Centers that provide one-stop access to a full range of services to move families towards financial prosperity.)
SparkPoint centers in San Francisco County have served 2,756 individuals providing resources for basic needs, employment and career opportunities, and financial coaching.
(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services)
20,559 referrals to basic needs and community resources were made to 211. Of those referrals, 8,655 were made to housing or shelter related services.
United Ways of California, in partnership with California’s 29 local United Ways, is proud to release How Much it Costs to Struggle: The Real Cost Measure in California 2023, a study on what it takes to make ends meet in California.
Unlike the official poverty measure which primarily accounts for the cost of food, the Real Cost Measure factors the costs of housing, food, health care, childcare, transportation and other basic needs to reveal what it really costs to live in California.
(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services))
2-1-1 phone and text services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are available in 150 languages through phone interpretation services and English and Spanish for text services.
Get exclusive access to United Way Bay Area’s Regional Community Impact Report. Discover how we served 649,000+ individuals, provided $1.6 million in assistance, and partnered with 259 organizations to support families in need. Opt-in now to see detailed, county-specific impact numbers and be part of the change!
We have been working to alleviate poverty across our eight‐county region for a century. We invite you to learn more about our work, our relationships.
116,630 individuals are experiencing food insecurity in Alameda County alone.
27,709 renter-households with low incomes DO NOT have access to an affordable home.
40,404 households in Marin County spend more than 30% of household income on rent.
Full-time income for workers in low-wage jobs decreased 10% between 2000 and 2019, while high-wage job income increased 13%.
A typical family of four needs $127,332 just to meet basic needs. The median income for SF residents is $119,136.
33,374 individuals have been served through UWBA programs – that’s nearly twice the seating capacity of the Chase Center.
54,584 households are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.
* UWBA Grantees
We have been working to alleviate poverty across our eight‐county region for a century. We invite you to learn more about our work, our relationships.
Find out how we can partner to amplify your community support and create a lasting impact together.
Raise your voice and advocate for policy measures that drive positive change and uplift the needs of our community.
Please check your inbox for the link to access to the impact data eight bay area counties!