In a state with the fourth-largest economy in the world, Census data shows about 64,000 Sacramento residents live below the poverty line, and of those, an estimated 10,000 are Black residents.
Those numbers were central to the 4th annual “Fight Poverty, Not the Poor” festival held Feb. 21 at the Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative.
This event was hosted by the Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign, Black Parallel School Board, NorCal Resist, Sacramento Homeless Organizing Committee, Feed Sacramento Homeless, Oak Park Homeless Project, Baker Energy Team SM, Sacramento Area Black Caucus, and Rancho San Miguel Market.
Organizers say the goal of the event is to celebrate Black history month and educate the community about the importance of “fighting poverty, not the poor.”
“The average rent is around $1,500,” said Faye Wilson Kennedy, an organizer with the Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign. “Research shows people need to make at least $25 an hour to meet their basic needs.”
The festival brought together nearly 30 community resource organizations offering direct support to unhoused residents and low-income families. Attendees met service providers, received hygiene supplies and warm clothing, and learned about available programs.
“This event is for the unhoused population and families that are struggling. But it’s also a way to bring that particular population together so they can network and build community,” Kennedy said.
The keynote address was delivered by Robynne Rose-Haymer, former member of the Sacramento Services Not Sweeps Coalition and current Vice President of Programs at the San Diego Workforce Partnership. She emphasized workforce access and long-term pathways out of poverty.
Kennedy said a simple, yet powerful factor driving Sacramento’s poverty rate is economics.
For families earning minimum wage or working jobs without healthcare benefits or paid sick leave, even one missed paycheck can destabilize housing.
“Housing is typically the largest expense. For families with children under 12, childcare can exceed $1,000 per month, a cost that quickly overwhelms low-wage earners,” she said.
Advocates say Black residents face additional structural barriers, including employment discrimination and educational inequities. Limited public transportation in Sacramento also complicates employment stability, especially for those commuting across the city.
Kevin Carter, an advocate with the Poor People’s Campaign, said policy decisions at the city and county levels can stabilize vulnerable residents or push them deeper into crisis.
“When you cut healthcare, who does it affect first? Poor people,” Carter said. “When you cut food assistance, who does that affect? Poor people.”
He described certain local policies as “death policies,” arguing that reducing access to housing, healthcare, and support services puts vulnerable residents at greater risk.
Advocates have questioned how homelessness funding is allocated, calling for more resources to go directly to housing, mental health services, and job programs instead of administrative costs.
“The only voice the homeless have is the organizations that represent them,” Carter said.
While the festival provided direct aid, organizers stressed that long-term solutions require structural reform.
Kennedy called on faith groups, community organizations, and elected officials to take greater responsibility, especially as Black residents are disproportionately represented among the unhoused.
“If 30 to 40 percent of the unhoused look like you and me, then we all have to take responsibility,” she said.
Advocates argue that fighting poverty requires investing in education, expanding access to living-wage jobs, strengthening public transportation, and ensuring culturally appropriate services for communities of color.
For community members wondering what they can do, Kennedy suggests that people can volunteer with local service organizations, donate to grassroots groups working directly with unhoused residents, engage with faith communities about launching feeding programs or advocate for policy changes at city and county meetings.
In a state celebrated for its economic power, Sacramento’s organizers say prosperity should be measured not just by GDP but by whether residents can afford rent, childcare, healthcare, and a stable life.
“The message is simple,” Carter said. “Fight poverty, not the poor.”