The Facts about Economic Insecurity

Alameda County has the dubious distinction of being one of four California counties where the fair market rent for a studio apartment is more than the entire SSI/SSP grant for an individual. Our colleagues at the California Budget and Policy Center released a Fact Sheet comparing SSI/SSP cash assistance levels to housing costs across California. Click here for the CBPC Fact Sheet.

Fair Market Rent for a studio apartment is more than half the maximum SSI/SSP grant (for an individual) in every county, and higher than the entire grant in more than 1 in 4 counties – Alameda County being one of them.

The Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program and the State Supplemental Payment (SSP) were designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people who have little or no income meet their basic needs. However, years of cuts and the elimination of the state COLA has left current grant levels below the federal poverty level, leaving SSI recipients struggling to survive.

The CBPC analysis underscores the need to increase SSI/SSP grant levels and restore the COLA in order to help low-income Californians maintain stable housing and reduce their risk of homelessness.