California Policy Lab September 2021 Newsletter

How did crime rates change in California and the U.S. in 2020?

California’s property crime rate decreased by 7.7% in 2020 and the rest of the U.S. saw a similar decrease. In contrast, violent crime increased slightly, by 0.8% in California as compared to a 3.8% increase in the rest of the U.S. However, as Steve Raphael explained to NPR, there were decreases and increases in specific crime types, for example, homicides increased 31%. Policy Brief

Which California families are most at risk of missing out on the CTC?

Recent changes to the Child Tax Credit expanded eligibility and made the credit more valuable, but some eligible families are missing out on it. CPL analyzed the characteristics of over 650,000 California children that are at risk of not receiving the credit. Aparna Ramesh spoke with ABC 10 about the findings and how new resources can help connect people to the credit. Policy Brief.

New CPL Seed Grants and Graduate Fellowships awarded; next deadline is Sept. 30th

Zachary Sauers (UC Berkeley) is examining the relationship between student debt and where college graduates locate (Graduate Fellowship).

Eva Lyubich (UCLA) is focusing on how energy costs vary by race in California, and the role energy and food assistance programs can play in meeting needs (Seed Grant and Graduate Fellowship).

Upcoming deadlines: Sept 30th for Seed Grants and LifeCourse data; Nov 30th for Graduate Fellowships.

Webinar: Healing Starts at Home: Reimagining Permanent Supportive Housing for Trauma Survivors (Sept 29th)

Dean Obermark, Data Analyst at CPL, will present on behalf of co-authors Norweeta Wilburn, Earl Edwards, and Janey Rountree on CPL’s forthcoming research on disparities in who leaves permanent supportive housing in Los Angeles. This is the second webinar in a four-part series, sponsored by the Corporation for Supportive Housing, the Downtown Women’s Center, and the National Alliance for Safe Housing. Webinar registration

Job opening at CPL’s UC Berkeley site

Senior Research Associate, UC Berkeley

CPL recognizes the value of having a diverse staff at all levels of the organization. We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent and understand the diverse racial and ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, educational, socioeconomic, cultural, and disability backgrounds present in California.

The Pandemic Puts Criminal Courts Behind Schedule As Violent Crime Spikes

Steve Raphael, UC Berkeley public policy professor, and co-author of CPL’s new analysis on crime rates, explains how the increase in homicides in 2020 is disproportionately impacting young Latino and African American men. Capital Public Radio and The Davis Vanguard and Fox 40 also covered the research.

Study finds Hispanic, Native American children missing out on child tax credit

Aparna Ramesh, Senior Research Manager, is interviewed about CPL’s new research on which types of families are most likely to miss out on the newly expanded Child Tax Credit. The research was also covered by the Fresno Bee.

Why Millions Of Californians Are About To Lose Their Unemployment Benefits

Till von Wachter, faculty director at CPL’s UCLA site, comments on the impact of approximately two million Californians losing their unemployment benefits earlier this month.

The Time Tax: Why is so much American bureaucracy left to average citizens?

CPL’s research finding that a large share of eligible people leave the CalFresh program in the same month they have to re-certify is cited in this article about the administrative burdens people face while trying to enroll in programs for which they’re eligible.

LA County to begin educational campaign about child tax credit

This article cites CPL’s research finding that almost half of the households who were eligible for the CalEITC in 2017 did not receive it.