SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — More than one-third of all households in San Diego County are not earning enough to make basic ends meet, according to a study by United Ways of California.
The study uncovers the real cost of living here in the Golden State. It took into account housing, food, child care, transportation and health care.
San Diego resident Chelsea Olsen is a single mother with four children, ranging in age from 14 months to 16 years.
"It's impossible, impossible," she said. "Unless you have three jobs. I had three jobs and I still wasn't able to make enough."
Olsen's three-bedroom apartment along the freeway costs her more than $4,400 a month.
"My parents actually have to pay my rent, because i can't afford it," she said.
On top of that, there's food for her family.
"I just spent $200 on food and I only got two dinners," she told CBS 8.
She also needs fuel for the car.
"My gas costs $120 to fill this baby, and it's every three days."
This new study finds that for a family of four in San Diego County with two adults and two kids, it costs over $110,000 a year for a decent standard of living. Single moms, households of color and seniors are disproportionately impacted, according to this report.
In Olsen's case, as a single mom, that number is more than $147,000. It's far from what she's able to provide.
Nancy Sasaki, CEO of the United Way of San Diego County, said many are struggling in the region.
"You really hope that families can survive and thrive in our community, and yet, these numbers really show that many of them are not," Sasaki said.
"To know that 36 percent of the families in San Diego County struggle to make ends meet," she said, "That is sobering."
Sasaki noted this study provides a far more realistic picture, compared to federal guidelines often used to qualify families for assistance. Those federal guidelines place less than eleven percent of local families below the poverty level.
"What we know about that is, it doesn't include all of our basic needs," she said.
San Diegan Britney Lligon is mom to two toddlers.
"We need help!" she said. "We're not even making enough money to make ends meet. These holidays this year are going to be real tough for some people because they're going to have to choose between rent and presents, and that's a sad place to be."
A licensed vocational nurse, Ligon said she has to consistently work overtime to cover her expenses.
"That's taking away time from my family so I can have a good Christmas," she added.
In fact, this study finds that 97 percent of households that fall below the 'real cost' measure actually have somebody working.
"They are working." Sasaki said. "It's not as if nobody is working. They are trying."
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