More Support Needed for Organizations Serving the Underserved

The COVID-19 crisis continues to inequitably affect Californians who live in underserved communities. These residents are still experiencing the highest COVID-19 case rates and disproportionate economic impacts related to the ongoing crisis: outcomes that directly result from systemic racism and continued divestment. 

Since the start of the pandemic, community-based organizations (CBOs) across California have stepped up to provide resources and services to those most in need. Specifically, CBOs have delivered food aid, housing assistance, personal protective equipment, translation services, vaccinations, and a variety of other indispensable supports to the communities they serve.

A new report, titled "How California’s Community-Based Organizations Filled the Gaps for Underserved Communities: Meeting the Needs of Racially & Ethnically Diverse Communities During the Pandemic," shows how policymakers and community leaders can improve California's efforts to advance an equitable recovery by supporting and empowering CBOs in underserved communities. This report was developed by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), ChangeLab Solutions, and Prevention Institute and includes contributions from 21 CBOs from throughout California.

Besides discussing the systemic inequities that underlie disparities in COVID-19 case and death rates, the report also documents the specific ways that CBOs have served and risen to the occasion during the pandemic. The report concludes with key recommendations for California policymakers and community leaders on a variety of topics and policy areas.