Commission, University Present Mixed Bag of Conclusions in “Status of Pasadena Women” Report
Posted By : JAMES MACPHERSON
Posted On : 7:19 am | March 5, 2015
A city commission Wednesday released a Mount St. Mary’s University report on the status of women in Pasadena showing, among other facts, that women’s earnings in Pasadena when compared to men’s are significantly higher than the national average.
Highlights from the report, which was produced by Pasadena’s Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with the University, were presented by report collaborator Dr. Eleanor Dantzler Siebert at a morning reception at the Pasadena Public Library’s main branch auditorium.
After the highlights panelists from Peace Over Violence, the Pasadena Police Department, Union Station Homeless Services, the California Department of Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Department of Labor were led in a discussion of the report’s findings by Lena Kennedy.
That reception filled the room almost to capacity with a crowd of about 125. Many government and civic leaders, activists and two mayoral candidates were in the audience.
“Our hope is that this report will spark conversations like you’re having today and inspire action in your community,” Dr. Siebert said.
Dr. Siebert said that University researchers were directed to five areas of exploration by the Commission: “The first was employment and learnings, the second was housing and homelessness, the third [was] women veterans, fourth, domestic violence, and human trafficking was the final section.”
Key findings:
• Pasadena has a total population of 140,000, half of them are women.
• In Pasadena, women earn 91 cents for every dollar that men earn, for a ratio of 0.91. In the rest of California, that ratio is 0.84 and in the United States overall women earn 79 cents on average for every dollar earned by men.
• In Pasadena, researchers identified four occupational clusters where women earn as much as and even slightly more than men.
• In terms of housing, 30 percent of Pasadena housing units are headed by women, 11 percent by single mothers and 19 percent are women living alone. It’s worth noting that of the single mothers, 42 percent have children under the age of 18 years. And of the women who live alone, 38 percent are over the age of 65.
• The most recent homeless count used at the time the report was prepared showed 650 homeless people in Pasadena, roughly one half of one percent of the city’s population. There were approximately 200 homeless women. The reports shows that two-thirds of the homeless women are in in shelters.
• Pasadena has about 5,000 veterans and these include more than 400 women, the report concludes. Pasadena’s women veterans are predominantly African-American. 30 percent of women veterans are African-American compared to 10 percent of the non-veteran women in Pasadena. Six women veterans were listed among the city’s homeless, the report says.
• The reports says that the Pasadena Police Department receives over 700 calls for assistance in domestic violence situations each year. This number has been trending downwards since 2010. 84 percent of the reported victims are female and the median age of the victims is 32 years. Latinas and African-Americans are disproportionately represented among the domestic violence victims.
• The reports says that because California has major international value, a high immigrant population and a large economy, it is one of the nation’s top destinations for trafficked persons. In California, 47 percent of documented victims are exploited for sex and 49 percent for labor.
Pasadena’s Commission on the Status of Women includes nine women appointed by the Pasadena City Council. During the past 30 years, the Commission has provided pertinent information regarding issues affecting women and has made recommendations on local programs and legislation to promote and ensure equal rights and opportunities for Pasadena girls and women.
The public is invited to join Pasadena’s Commission on the Status of Women for the release of its 2015 “Status of Women” report at a free reception and panel discussion from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Pasadena Central Library, Donald R. Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut St.
Panelists discussing the report findings include representatives from Peace Over Violence, the Pasadena Police Department, Union Station Homeless Services, the California Department of Veteran Affairs (CAL VET) and the U.S. Department of Labor. For event information and to RSVP, call the Human Services and Recreation Department at (626) 744-4386.
The 2015 report will be released in time for Women’s History Month to raise awareness about women’s needs and challenges. Copies of the report will be available at the event while supplies last. The report will be posted online starting March 4. Look for the link on the City’s website at www.cityofpasadena.net/HumanServices.
The report highlights four key areas and challenges that Pasadena women face, including:
• Employment and Earnings – The annual gender earnings gap is $0.91 for women ages 16 and older who work full-time. When including the salaries of part-time workers, the annual gender earnings gap is significantly larger at $0.79.
• Housing and Homelessness – Thirty percent of households are headed by women with no spouse present; women constitute 35 percent of the homeless population; and women constitute 23 percent of the unsheltered homeless adult population.
• Women Veterans – Women make up only 8 percent of the veteran population but constitute 12 percent of the homeless veteran population.
• Domestic Violence – Women are victims in 84 percent of the domestic violence cases filed.
The report also includes Los Angeles County statistics on human trafficking, with California reporting 16 percent of human trafficking cases between 2008 and 2012, the highest in the nation, and the county reporting 1,300 trafficking victims between 2010 and 2012.
The annual report was produced by Pasadena’s Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with Mount St. Mary’s University. The Commission includes nine women appointed by the Pasadena City Council. During the past 30 years, the Commission has provided pertinent information regarding issues affecting women and has made recommendations on local programs and legislation to promote and ensure equal rights and opportunities for Pasadena girls and women.
Event sponsors include Assemblymember Chris Holden, the Pasadena Police Department, Union Station Homeless Services, Peace Over Violence, CAL VET, Pasadena City College, YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley, All Saints Church, American Association of University Women, National Women’s Political Caucus, Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, Women At Work, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (Eta Lambda Omega Chapter), League of Women Voters, Pasadena, and the Junior League of Pasadena.
During the annual Dinner-in-the-Park on Christmas Day in Pasadena’s Central Park, the Union Station Homeless Services have provided meals to the homeless, low income families and those with no where else to go on the holiday. See all the photos from today’s event.
Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Check out our list of holiday volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles.
‘Tis the season to be jolly and thankful, and well-fed and warm. ‘Tis also the season to give to those who may be less fortunate—and more hungry—by taking advantage of the city’s many volunteer opportunities. Start your volunteer work with our list of some of the best places in Los Angeles to feed the needy—and hopefully your altruism will linger well past the holidays. RECOMMENDED: See full coverage of Thanksgiving in Los Angeles
Midnight Mission
Downtown LA’s Midnight Mission is one of the best-run organizations of its kind, offering counseling, education, training and job placement to the city’s homeless population, as well as food, shelter, personal hygiene and medical care. Along with regular meal services and food donation drives, the Mission holds special Thanksgiving and Christmas events. If you’d like to help during a special event, start with a regular dining hall service shift first. Note: Because it’s an all-male facility, Midnight Mission asks that female volunteers come with a companion (male or female).
Union Station Homeless Services
USHS, San Gabriel Valley’s largest social services agency, has hosted “Dinner in the Park” for over four decades. Deemed the biggest potluck in the nation by the LA Times, the volunteer-run dinner helps provide warm holiday meals to more than 7,000 low income, homeless and senior citizens. For details and volunteer information, apply online; and if you’re interested in donating goods, take a look at USHS’ most-wanted list (green beans are in high demand). The agency also offers year-round community meal programs and other services for the area’s homeless population, including emergency shelter, community shower programs, children’s education and recreational activity and adult classes in parenting, money management and nutrition.
One Voice
Santa Monica–based One Voice puts on an annual Holiday Food Program to distribute Christmas food baskets, toys and books to more than 2,500 families living in poverty in the LA area. On the Thursday and Friday before Christmas, more than 2,000 volunteers come together to prep, sort and package food—it’s a festive atmosphere with holiday music and lots of socializing. Saturday, volunteers deliver the food and toys to seven distribution centers, and on Sunday, families arrive to receive the goods and celebrate with volunteers. To be part of the celebration, check One Voice’svolunteer info page and fill out a registration form.
At each of SOVA’s three service centers (West LA, West Hollywood and Van Nuys), Food Pantries are stocked with nutritious canned and packaged foods, breads and fresh produce. Pantries provide a free five-day supply of groceries and hygiene products for each family member in need. Volunteers are needed for everything from packaging and inventory to registering clients and entering data. SOVA offers opportunities for both “occasional” and “core” volunteers—check their site to learn more about both.
The Fred Jordan Mission has provided food, clothing, blankets and other services to the homeless population of inner city Los Angeles for more than 50 years. Its Street Banquet on Skid Row offers a traditional turkey dinner to hundreds of the area’s homeless. FJM also hosts a Christmas Celebration during which volunteers hand out food bags, toys and blankets—as well as sing carols—to more than 12,000 of downtown’s neediest. Volunteer opportunities are also available during Easter, Mother’s Day and Back-to-Shool. Check the Mission’s website and fill out a volunteer form to get involved. Note: The FJM is a religious organization and tends to hand out “food for the soul” (a.k.a. bibles) along with its “food for the body”—in case that sort of thing makes you uncomfy.
Food on Foot
This organization distributes food (chicken, fresh fruits and veggies, granola bars, milk etc.) and gently used clothing, shoes and blankets every week in Hollywood. You can sign up to volunteer anytime, and though it usually costs $25 (providing the funds to feed about five people for a day), for FOF’s bigThanksgiving Day celebration, volunteer cost is $100. Note: Neil Patrick Harris is a benefactor—he won $100,000 for FOF on Jeopardy in 2010—so don’t be surprised if while volunteering you see him don a hairnet and take to the streets.
Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission
Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission offers a host of services, including hot meals, health services and housing to the needy population in San Fernando Valley. Though its annual Thanksgiving Banquet volunteer sign-ups often fill up, you can still help to hand out hot meals, clothing, medicine and hygiene kits on weekdays, as well as volunteering for its breakfast on Saturdays and BBQs every other Sunday. Check the website for a calendar of events.
This organization comes together to prepare meals, which volunteers bring to different shelters in West LA to be handed out by shelter volunteers. If you’re interested in the prep and cooking, but maybe not ready for the interaction side of things, this could be the group for you. Each November, OIF hosts its annual Homeless Feeding, an all-day event including meal prep, assembly and packing, delivery and serving at different shelters, and post-event cleanup. You can either donate your time or drop off key necessities like pre-cooked turkeys, pies, juice boxes, water or delivery vans (you know, if you have one handy).
Help distribute food to LA’s hungry at the LA Regional Food Bank. Volunteers are needed for food sorting, special events and food drives, including the organization’s upcoming Operation Gobble, where volunteers will help to sort, inspect and repackage food for delivery during the holidays. Check the Food Bank website for a list of upcoming Gobble dates and to register.
