CA absolutely fucks you if you’re poor. there’s almost nothing out there for you. I once made $13,000 in one year and was ineligible for cal fresh (food stamps) because I made too much money.
the housing problem is as bad as it is because there are zero safety nets here and we’ve collectively decided we don’t care as long as we don’t have to physically see them, so they get shuffled around by cities according to how loudly residents are complaining.
even the state $15 min wage was far too little far too late and rolled out way too slowly.