West LA Times

The latest California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, has highlighted significant disparities in health-related issues across different demographics in California. The survey, which added over 50 new questions on various topics including housing discrimination and gambling, aims to inform policy and advocacy through its data.

Housing discrimination was a prominent focus of the survey. It found that 9.4% of Black or African American adults reported experiencing housing discrimination in the past two years, compared to 2.3% of white adults. Multiracial, Latinx, and Asian adults also reported notable levels of housing discrimination.

Language and income were identified as factors influencing experiences with housing discrimination. Adults who spoke languages other than English at home faced higher rates of discrimination than those who only spoke English. Additionally, individuals earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level experienced higher rates of housing discrimination compared to those earning more.

The survey explored other areas such as gambling, where about a quarter of California adults gambled in the past year; among them, 6.7% showed symptoms of problem gambling. "These new topics provide policymakers... additional verified data," said Ninez Ponce, principal investigator of CHIS.

A concerning trend emerged regarding police stops: while overall numbers decreased from 2022 to 2023 for most racial groups, they increased for Black or African American adults from 26.7% to 30.2%. Todd Hughes noted that disaggregating data by race and ethnicity reveals systemic inequities.

Mental health remains a concern despite some improvements since the pandemic's peak distress levels in 2021. Serious psychological distress persisted above pre-pandemic levels for certain groups like Asian adults and those with unstable housing situations.

Food insecurity is another area showing growing inequality; nearly half of low-income Californians struggled to afford food in 2023—a steady increase since 2020. Medical debt issues have also intensified, with many resorting to credit card debt for medical expenses.

"As part of a public university... it’s a moral imperative," stated Ponce on making research accessible to tackle these challenges effectively.