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Santa Clara County

Change Through Collaboration in Santa Clara County

Building a Resilient and Inclusive Community

 

Welcome to our page dedicated to Santa Clara County. We are committed to addressing the pressing needs of our fellow residents and working together to create a stronger and more equitable community.

 

From access to affordable housing and economic stability to supporting workforce development and community services, there exist both opportunities and challenges. We recognize the importance of addressing these needs for the well-being of all Santa Clara residents.

 

Through this page, we aim to provide you with valuable data and insights that shed light on the specific challenges faced by our community and the collaborative initiatives driving positive change.

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We Are Stronger Together.

 

Juan is one success story. It begins with his years growing up in the Bay Area:

 

“I did stuff that I shouldn’t have done. A lot of it was because I was angry. Since I was about 15, incarceration played a major role in my life. Nothing too serious. But I was in and out.”

 

The last time he was released, Juan was determined to build a new life. A turning point was finding the United Way Bay Area SparkPoint Center at Laney College. He had completed culinary studies and was taking additional classes in hopes of attending University of California, Berkeley to earn a bachelor’s degree and secure a higher-paying job.

97,782 people served through UWBA programs

27,400 children are experiencing food insecurity

$120,028 Real cost measure for a family of 4

The Need in Santa Clara County

Income Inequality in Santa Clara County is Growing

Between 2018 & 2021, there was a 27% increase in cost of living in Santa Clara County while wages only increased 14% .

A call for help

Santa Clara County had the highest 211 call volume in 2021 compared to the rest of SF Bay Area counties, with most calls being related to housing and basic needs.

Housing is a cost burden for many residents

221,436 households in Santa Clara County are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.

Our Impact in the Community

 

 

A female presenting individual with red glasses and a red shirt with a headset on in front of a computer with a 211 Bay Area sign on a wall behind them.

211

(A free, vital service that connects callers with health and human services (food, shelter, childcare, legal services)

 

211 received 23,966 calls and texts from the community, resulting in 51,907 referrals to basic needs and community resources

 

Learn More About 211

Emergency Assistance Network (EAN)

(EAN Provides emergency services to people in need through our seven member agencies.)

 

676,733 meals served through EAN partner agencies to Santa Clara County residents.

 

Learn More About EAN

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Two female presenting individuals wearing black smiling against a white wall that has the words 'SparkPoint' on it.

SparkPoint

(Centers that provide one-stop access to a full range of services to move families towards financial prosperity.)

 

Since SparkPoint started in 2017, the program has helped clients increase their annual income by an average of $2,335.

 

Learn More About SparkPoint

Explore the Data

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The Real Cost Measure

 

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.


Explore our Real Cost Measure dashboard
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211 Bay Area

 

(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.


Explore our 211 Dashboard

Unlock the Impact: Discover How United Way Bay Area is Changing Lives in Your Community

 

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!

 

Bay Area Impact Analysis By County

 

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.

 

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Alameda County

116,630 individuals are experiencing food insecurity in Alameda County alone.

See Alameda’s Need

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Contra Costa County

27,709 renter-households with low incomes DO NOT have access to an affordable home.

See Contra Costa’s Need

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Marin County

40,404 households in Marin County spend more than 30% of household income on rent.

See Marin County’s Need

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Napa County

Full-time income for workers in low-wage jobs decreased 10% between 2000 and 2019, while high-wage job income increased 13%.

See Napa County’s Need

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San Francisco County

A typical family of four needs $127,332 just to meet basic needs. The median income for SF residents is $119,136.

See San Francisco’s Need

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San Mateo County

33,374 individuals have been served through UWBA programs – that’s nearly twice the seating capacity of the Chase Center.

See San Mateo’s Need

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Santa Clara County

27,400 children are experiencing food insecurity.

See Santa Clara’s Need

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Solano County

54,584 households are housing burdened, spending more than 30% of household income on rent.

See Solano County’s Need

Partner Agencies

 

  • Amigos de Guadalupe*
  • Asian Americans for Community Involvement
  • (AACI)
  • Asian, Inc.
  • Bay Area Legal Aid
  • Bill Wilson Center*
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Building Skills Partnership*
  • CalWORKs Social Service Agency
  • Carry the Vision
  • Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
  • Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and
  • Services*
  • Community Services Agency of Mountain View, Los
  • Altos, and Los Altos Hills*
  • Community Solutions for Children Families and
  • Individuals
  • Cupertino Library
  • DeAnza Community College
  • East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
  • Evergreen Valley College
  • Family Supportive Housing
  • Front Door Communities
  • Grace Solutions
  • Health Trust
  • Hillview Branch Library
  • Hope’s Corner
  • Independence Adult Center
  • Jewish Family Services of Silicon Valley
  • Korean American Community Service
  • Lao Family Community Development, Inc.
  • Life on Trak
  • LifeMoves*
  • Loaves and Fishes Family Kitchen
  • Mama D 2nd Chance
  • Martha’s Kitchen
  • Mayan Latinx Coaching
  • Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
  • Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
  • Pars Equality Center
  • Pitstop Outreach
  • Planned Parenthood Northern California
  • River Of Life Family Church
  • River of Life Foundation
  • Sacred Heart Community Service*
  • Salvation Army Oakland
  • Salvation Army of Silicon Valley*
  • San Jose City College
  • San Jose Conservation Corps + Charter School
  • San Jose Evergreen Community College District
  • Foundation
  • San Jose Evergreen Community College District*
  • San Jose State University
  • Santa Maria Urban Ministry
  • Second Harvest of Silicon Valley (Food Bank)
  • Silicon Valley at Home*
  • SOMOS Mayfair, Inc*
  • South Bay Consortium for Adult Education (SBCAE),
  • Funder
  • South County Compassion Center
  • St. Joseph’s Family Center*
  • Star One Credit Union
  • Sunnyvale Community Services*
  • Union City Family Center
  • VOICES Solano Youth Center
  • West Valley Community Services*
  • YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley Offsite

 

* UWBA Grantees

Make a Difference

 

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.

 

Support Our Region

Now that you know the need, support our region and make a difference today!

Give

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Partner With Us On Your CSR Goals

Find out how we can partner to amplify your community support and create a lasting impact together.

Partnerships

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Your Voice Matters

Raise your voice and advocate for policy measures that drive positive change and uplift the needs of our community.

Advocate

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Thank you!

Please check your inbox for the link to access to the impact data eight bay area counties!

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Santa Clara County Quiz

True or False, Santa Clara County had the highest 211 call volume in 2021 compared to the rest of the SF Bay Area?



About how many children are facing food insecurity in Santa Clara County?