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# More California children fall into poverty
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/more-california-children-fall-into-poverty/
- Published: 2004-09-20T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:07:11.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

California is not the Golden State for many children. The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) recently released an analysis of census data that shows significantly more California children are living in poverty than the nation. Using U.S. Census Bureau data, the study also revealed that the number of children living in poverty increased over last year. More than 1.75 million children in California in 2003 lived in a family with incomes below the federal poverty level — about $15,000 for a family of three. This represents nearly 1 in 5 of all California’s children. Children who are poor are more likely to die in infancy, have a low birthweight, and lack health care, housing, adequate food, and receive lower scores in math and reading.

“The 2004-2005 state budget that was recently signed by Governor Schwarzenegger temporarily avoided drastic cuts to most children’s services and programs, but a lack of new revenues will result in California’s budget deficit carrying over to next year’s budget and beyond,” said Deena Lahn, policy director at the Children’s Defense Fund of California.

CDF’s national report contrasts the poverty line with basic daily expenses needed to raise a family.

For more information is available online at www.childrensdefense.org/familyin-come/childpoverty/definingpoverty.pdf.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 20, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092004.pdf?ref=smdp.com)