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Single women have it tougher in Los Angeles County than married women, according to a report released Thursday by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
Single women, especially single mothers, are more likely to be poor, homeless and in a low-wage job, according to the report, "2007: The State of Women in Los Angeles County."
Since 1990, the number of single mothers living in poverty in the county has increased from 37 percent to 40 percent, according to the report.
About 26 percent of women who live alone and 40 percent of single mothers are considered poor, compared to 11 percent of married couples.
"Because of the increased cost of living in Los Angeles, families now need two incomes to survive," said Elise Buik, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
"At the same time, the number of single-headed households is on the rise, creating adverse conditions to the surge of homelessness, poverty and educational shortfalls for women and all Angelenos."
Of the city's 88,000 homeless, 21,000 are women and 15,000 are children, according to the report.
A single mother living in Los Angeles needs an annual income of $42,936 to cover food, housing, childcare and transportation. However, the average income for women living in the city is about $34,000.
Between 1990 and 2001, more than one million former welfare recipients entered the county's job market, increasing the competition for low-wage jobs.
According to the report, programs that emphasized basic literacy, skills training and career placement provided better earning opportunities for women.
Health is another important issue facing women in Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles County, 669,000 women ages 18 to 64 do not have health insurance. Half of the county's five million women also admitted to getting little exercise, contributing to the rising rates of obesity.
However, women are living longer in California. The life expectancy for a woman born in 1950 was 73; today, a woman can expect to live to age 82.
"It is essential for us as a community to become involved in improving the state of education, homelessness and asset-building opportunities, not only for women but for all who live in Los Angeles County," Buik said.
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