Understanding
Our Mission

At Community Resource Center, we believe in building communities where dignity, safety and stability are possible for everyone. Our mission is rooted in responsive care for our neighbors in need — and powered by compassion.

a mother and her daughter

Our Mission

Our mission is to help our neighbors create paths to healthy food, stable homes and safe relationships.

To better understand our mission, explore key statistics, research and publications below
that reveal the challenges facing our community.

Key Statistics at a Glance

1 in 4 San Diegans

including nearly 1 in 3 children and 1 in 4 older adults—experiences nutrition insecurity.

Source: "2024 State of Hunger Issue Brief", June 2024, San Diego Hunger Coalition

5.9 million Americans

aged 65+ live below the poverty level — with many more just above it.

Source: "Profile of Older Americans", Administration for Community Living, 2023

Nearly 1 in 2 women

in California have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime; 1 in 3 women—or 460,000—experienced it in 2023 alone.

Source: “The Costs of Intimate Partner Violence in California: 2023 Report”, Klugman et al.

Facts & Research

Housing & Homelessness

What the Research Shows

Rising Unsheltered Homelessness:

The number of unsheltered individuals in San Diego County increased by 18% from 2023 to 2024, reaching a total of 6,110 people, according to the Regional Task Force on Homelenessness’ annual Point- in-Time Count.

Source: “2024 PITC- Regional and Cities Breakdown", Regional Task Force on Homelessness

In 2019, nearly 1 out of 4 residents (24.1%) in the North Coastal Region lived below 200% of the federal poverty level. Nearly 1 out of 5 households (18.0%) in North Coastal Region had an annual income of less than $35,000

Source: “San Diego County Self-Sufficiency Standard Brief: Household with Two Adults and Two Children, 2023”, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, Community Health Statistics Unit, March 29, 2024.

In a statewide study on homelessness, nearly all participants expressed an interest in obtaining housing, but faced barriers.

Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) participants noted housing costs as a barrier to re- entering permanent housing.

Source: “Toward a New Understanding”, UCSF, CA Statewide Study on Homelessness (2023)

Shelter Capacity Challenges:

The availability of shelter beds has consistently fallen short of the demand. While efforts to place individuals into housing have seen success, the system lacks the necessary resources to assist everyone in need. ​

The number of people experiencing homelessness has always outpaced the number of existing shelter beds. While the response system is successful in placing people into housing, it does not have the resources it needs to serve everyone.

Source: “State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition”, National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Many older adults and families face housing insecurity due to income gaps and a lack of affordable homes.

There are 5.9 million people aged 65 and older living below the poverty level in the US, and many more with incomes barely above it.

This economic vulnerability highlights the need for targeted support to ensure older adults are not left without safe, affordable housing.  

Source: “2023 Profile of Older Americans”, Administration for Community Living, May 2023

In San Diego County, housing accounts for the largest portion of the total budget required to make ends meet.

The income needed to make ends meet in San Diego County is 3.3 times more than the Federal Poverty Level. In fact, the monthly income determined by the Federal Poverty Level would cover just the cost of housing in San Diego County. In 2023, the average amount spent on housing in San Diego County was $2,485 a month. This would leave a family with just over $100 to spend on childcare, groceries, healthcare, transportation, taxes, and any other essential miscellaneous items.

Source: “San Diego County Self-Sufficiency Standard Brief: Household with Two Adults and Two Children, 2023”, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, Community Health Statistics Unit, March 29, 2024.

Publications & Reports

Hunger & Food Insecurity

What the Research Shows

As of June 2024, 1 in 4 San Diegans, nearly 1 in 3 children, and 1 in 4 seniors face nutrition insecurity

Source: “2024 State of Hunger Issue Brief: September 2024 Data Release & Analysis", (June 2024 Data), San Diego Hunger Coalition

Key reasons for the recent increase in nutrition insecurity include a volatile labor market, increased unemployment, stark levels of household debt, and increases in the cost of living that are making it harder for San Diegans to afford basic necessities and avoid poverty, hunger, and homelessness.

While the 2024 minimum wage in California is $16.00 per hour, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Living Wage Calculator reports that $61,393 per year ($29.52 per hour at 40 hours per week) is the minimum needed for a household of one in San Diego County to afford all basic needs, including food, in 2024.

Based on the increased need and cost of living, nutrition insecurity may rise in the next year according to the San Diego Hunger Coalition.

Source: “2024 State of Hunger Issue Brief: Nutrition Insecurity & Missing Meals Analysis", (June 2024 Data), San Diego Hunger Coalition

Older adults are increasingly impacted due to fixed incomes and limited mobility.

Publications & Reports

Intimate Partner Violence

What the Research Shows

Nearly 1 in 2 women in California report experiencing some form of IPV

In 2023, 1 in 3 women (460,000 individuals) experienced physical and/or sexual IPV.

Source: “The Costs of Intimate Partner Violence in California: 2023 Report", Jeni Klugman, Li Li, Jakana Thomas, and Anita Raj

Intimate partner violence survivors face increased risks of chronic health conditions, homelessness, and economic instability.

Women who experienced Intimate Partner Violence in the last year had almost four times the odds of reporting housing instability than women who did not experience Intimate Partner Violence.

Source: “Intimate partner violence and housing instability", Pavao J, Alvarez J, Baumrind N, Induni M, Kimerling R, Am J Prev Med. 2007 Feb; 32(2): 143-6. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2006.10.008. PMID: 17234488.

Publications & Reports