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Los Angeles County Launches Pledge for Shared Prosperity to Reduce Poverty, Expand Opportunity

Los Angeles County Launches Pledge for Shared Prosperity to Reduce Poverty, Expand Opportunity 638 129 COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
Los Angeles County logo featuring the county seal and website URL, set against a dark blue background.

 June 5, 2026

Contact:
pio@ceo.lacounty.gov

Los Angeles County Launches Pledge for Shared Prosperity to Reduce Poverty, Expand Opportunity

Countywide initiative aims to partner with all 88 cities to expand benefit access and reduce poverty 

In an effort to put more food on families’ tables, more money in their pockets, and connect residents to health care and other essential benefits, Los Angeles County is launching the Pledge for Shared Prosperity — an initiative to partner with all 88 cities and reduce poverty countywide. The anti-poverty pledge commits cities to working with the County to connect residents and communities with key benefit programs. 

The Pledge for Shared Prosperity sets key goals to reduce poverty in communities, including increasing enrollment in CalWORKs by 10,000 families; boosting the cash back families receive by filing for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit by 10%; and helping residents maintain enrollment in programs such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal. 

“I am calling on my colleagues across all 88 cities to join the County in disrupting poverty across our region by signing the LA County Pledge for Shared Prosperity,” said Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “This pledge applies insights from the County’s State of Poverty Dashboard to provide actionable steps for keeping the earnings of working families in their pockets and expanding access to resources like CalWORKs – and other proven methods for creating new possibilities for residents most impacted. Poverty is not inevitable, solving it requires every jurisdiction working together and building on solutions that make a difference.” 

“As federal actions continue to dismantle social safety net programs and drive up the cost of basic necessities, we cannot accept worsening levels of poverty as the status quo in Los Angeles County,” said Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “This motion takes an all-hands-on-deck approach to strengthen coordination with our city and community partners, connect residents to critical cash assistance and benefits, and take intentional action to provide the support our communities need.” 

“Too many families across Los Angeles County are working hard every day and still struggling to afford housing, food, health care and other basic necessities,” said Board Chair and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. “The Pledge for Shared Prosperity is about meeting people where they are, connecting them to benefits and tax credits they have earned, and ensuring that no resident is left behind because they were unaware of available resources or faced barriers to accessing them. By partnering with cities across the county, we can expand opportunity, strengthen economic stability and help more families build a pathway out of poverty.” 

“The federal government is pulling away support that hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles County families depend on,” said Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We are seeing people lose their healthcare, the support they used to put food on the table, and even the help they depended on to stay in their homes. We can’t undo those cuts, but we can work to make sure families receive every benefit, tax credit, and resource that are still available to them. We are always stronger when we partner with our 88 cities and that is what this pledge is all about.” 

“Los Angeles County’s Poverty Alleviation Initiative reflects our shared responsibility to expand opportunity and improve economic stability for vulnerable residents across our region,” said Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “A countywide framework like this is most effective when it respects local governance, emphasizes voluntary collaboration, and recognizes the unique needs of individual communities. By advancing this effort through a pledge approach, we are reinforcing that commitment.” 

“Los Angeles County looks forward to working with our cities and municipalities to reduce poverty together,” said Kristina Meza, executive director of the Poverty Alleviation Initiative. “The County stands ready to work across jurisdictions to ensure families get the support they need.” 

The Los Angeles County Poverty Alleviation Initiative will partner with cities that sign on to the pledge to provide outreach resources and help track impact and progress through the newly launched State of Poverty Dashboard. Cities that take the pledge may also be eligible for a microgrant to support outreach and marketing activities in partnership with community health workers and grassroots organizations. In addition, the initiative will provide each city with an implementation guide to help them get started. 

Changing federal and state benefit eligibility rules are affecting residents across Los Angeles County. Beginning June 1, 2026, about 260,000 CalFresh customers in LA County will be subject to new work requirements. In October 2026, federal contributions to emergency care for undocumented residents will drop from 90% to 50%.  

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, new Medi-Cal work requirements will be enforced for adults ages 19 to 64, affecting an estimated 1.4 million Los Angeles County residents. While some adults are already working, or exempt, many are expected to lose coverage because of the new rules. A full timeline of upcoming eligibility rule changes, and resources for impacted residents, is available at lacounty.gov/impacts. 

The Pledge for Shared Prosperity is intended to help LA County customers meet new requirements to keep their benefits and connect eligible residents with available services to help lift them out of poverty.