Our Commitment to a Lasting Impact
Welcome to our dedicated page highlighting the needs and impact in San Mateo County. San Mateo County is home to the tech industry and with that, a community with its own unique challenges. We are dedicated to addressing the pressing needs of our San Mateo residents and fostering a stronger, more equitable region.
We recognize the need for support and services. Through this page, we aim to provide you with valuable data and insights that shed light on the specific challenges faced by our San Mateo community and the collective efforts we undertake to drive lasting impact that benefits individuals, families, and the entire community.
As a mother of three small children and a first-generation college student with ADHD, Marcia was finding it difficult to navigate the complicated processes of securing financial aid for her college studies. She was also having challenges accessing the College’s Food Pantry, a food assistance program provided in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, while caring for her family.
When Marcia first came to the SparkPoint Center at Cañada Community College, she brought along her two-year-old daughter. SparkPoint® Centers work with families to meet their basic needs, increase their income, build their credit, increase their savings, and reduce their debt. SparkPoint gave Marcia a place where she could feel comfortable visiting with children in tow, ask her questions, and speak candidly about the financial hardship she was experiencing.
“I felt like I came to the right place.”
With the help of SparkPoint’s coaches, Marcia started actively managing her budget, building her credit, accessing the food pantry, and applying for scholarships. Marcia graduated magna cum laude and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She achieved her Associate’s degree in Digital Art and Animation with a certificate in web design.
Among full time workers In San Mateo County, the income of low-wage workers decreased 9% between 2000 and 2019, while high-wage workers' income increased up to 22%.
54,921 households in Solano County struggle to meet basic needs including paying for food and groceries, housing and utility bills; and keeping up with monthly car payments and other transportation costs.
95,558 households in San Mateo County are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.
(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. in 150 languages))
United Way Bay Area has distributed $970,000 in grants to partner organizations including HIP Housing and Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County.
(Centers that provide one-stop access to a full range of services to move families towards financial prosperity.)
San Mateo County Sparkpoint centers provided critical services to 5,492 individuals and provided coaching to help 82% of clients moving toward achieving their financial goals.
(We connect union workers and their families with basic needs resources, legal services, and workforce training opportunities, as well as hardship funds when necessary.)
The San Mateo County Community Services team worked with our community partner, Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley to serve 3,2239 families and 533.455 pounds of food.
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!