This report focuses on a 524-family survey taken in three Anaheim neighborhoods. On a wide range of indicators, the survey finds profound disparities between the three neighborhoods and the rest of Orange County. A systematic downward spiral was identified that begins with the proliferation of low-wage, no-benefit jobs that do not pay enough to cover the high cost of housing in Anaheim. Due to the unsustainable mix of low-paying jobs and high cost of housing, concentrations of poverty develop within these neighborhoods and lay the foundation for gangs and other problems with safety and security. As a result, residents experience levels of stress that are much higher than in the average Orange County neighborhood. Stress is linked to health problems such as high blood pressure, unhealthy eating, heart disease, diabetes, and domestic abuse. In short, economic insecurity systematically undermines safety and community health for working families in these neighborhoods.

The crisis of working poverty threatens the stability of our region and affects everyone who lives or works in our community. We must all take leadership to address this shared challenge.

A study by OCCORD on the impact of economic decline in Orange County, California