Studies indicate that the costs of living in San Mateo exceed those of living in other cities, with an average scale of 150 compared to the national average of 100, a difference of 50%. This is just one of the many problems that contribute to the rising poverty rate. An additional cause related to the high cost of living is the minimum wage of many residents. Poverty is becoming a growing threat to communities. Common impacts include a higher crime rate and youth desperation. As in any situation, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and fortunately, poverty has moved closer to the "light" with solutions such as non-profit organizations and increased citizen awareness. Destitution in San Mateo County is attributable to excessive housing values ​​and limiting minimum wages. As Supervisor Dave Pines stated, “In this county of great wealth, many struggle due to the extremely high cost of living” (San Mateo County Newsroom). This struggle has brought economic difficulties to families and forced some inhabitants to move elsewhere. The minimum family income is a further factor of monetary shortage. According to the City/County Association of Governments, "Approximately 28 percent of households in San Mateo County have an annual income of less than $50,000. 12 percent of households in San Mateo County have an annual income of less than $25,000" ( CCAG). This confirms that, combined with the higher cost of living, low annual wages contribute to poverty in this community. Although San Mateo is known for a low poverty rate with only 6.5% of renters living below the poverty line, this is mainly due to the fact that only people who can afford to live in such an expensive environment can train a convenient...... middle of paper ..... .ves others in the sense that citizens of the community will become more knowledgeable about ways to help others, starting a chain reaction that can ultimately lead to the minimization of poverty . In conclusion, poverty is caused by the high cost of living and the minimum wage. It poses a threat to residents of the San Mateo community as it is the source of crime and contributes to youth desperation. This problem should be resolved immediately as it causes the affected individual to lose hope in their future and surrender to bad influences, harming others in the process. Ways to address the issue at hand include citizen awareness and non-profit organizations aimed at helping low-income families. The causes of poverty are what San Mateo County is currently facing, and if not prevented, could lead to dire circumstances for a large number of this county.