Human Services

Human Services

What’s the Issue?

Although both San Diego and Tijuana are considered wealthy compared to other areas of the border, a closer look reveals that both have a serious problem of urban and rural poverty, and both continue to be plagued by growing economic and social inequality between the affluent and the poor. San Diego now ranks 6th among metropolitan areas marked by the increase in poverty among its census tracts.26 These tracts generally match areas that have high concentrations of Mexican migrant workers including upwards of 10,000 to 15,000 living in migrant worker camps throughout San Diego County and many more living in overcrowded living conditions.27 Among San Diego residents of Mexican origin the incidence of poverty is growing due, in part, to the absence of affordable housing, the high cost of living and the inability to earn a living wage.

The plight of the working poor is not limited to San Diego. In Tijuana, it is estimated that half or 40,000 of new arrivals to the city live in squatter communities with inadequate infrastructure, limited or no access to clean water, and overcrowded conditions, and are often located on land that is geologically hazardous, has a high risk of flooding and/or is located in close proximity to industrial pollution areas or industrial zones. These housing conditions serve to further exacerbate the plight of the region’s working poor, and the prevalence of sub-standard living conditions south of the border have trans-boundary impacts, such as cross-border pollution, degradation of binational wildlife corridors and the spread of infectious diseases.

Why Should You Care?

Poverty, poor living conditions and the prevalence of squatter communities and migrant worker camps in both San Diego and Tijuana aggravates health problems, contributes to poor educational performance and higher drop out rates among children and youth, and increases the risk among residents of squatter communities of becoming susceptible to substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. The poor are also most susceptible to becoming exploited victims of crime, prostitution, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the sex trade. Still in both San Diego and Tijuana there is a general apathy and indifference towards the plight of the region’s working poor. Unless steps are taken to decrease the growing economic inequalities between the affluent and the poor, the long term economic prosperity and quality of the region will be adversely affected over time.