Our Community
Our community is the largest of eight service planning areas (SPAs) within Los Angeles County. The Service Planning Areas were created to serve as the basic geographic organization units for community health services under the Los Angeles County of Public Health. Our Service Planning Area (SPA 2) has a higher population than any other SPA and includes thirty-six distinct communities.
Strength United recognizes and acknowledges the Sesevitam, the first people of this ancestral and unceded territory of Sesevenga that is now occupied by our institution. We honor their elders, past and present, and the Sesevitam descendants who are citizens of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. StrengthUnited recognizes that the Sesevitam are still here and we are committed to lifting up their stories, culture, and community.
The racial/ethnic make-up of the San Fernando Valley is 41.7% Latino, 40.11% Caucasian, 10.48% Asian, 3.61% African American, and 4.33% who identify as other. In the Santa Clarita Valley, the population is 62.36% Caucasian, 23.61% Latino, 6.85% Asian, 3.40% African American, and 4.33% registered as other.
Age demographics (in years) in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys combined are: Children (0-13) - 18.9%, Young adults (14-24) - 15.21%, Adults (25-44) - 28.65%, Older adults (45-64) - 27.86%, and Seniors (65-84) - 9.38%.
Household income disparities exist in our community. In 2009, there were 15.44% reporting annual incomes below $15,000 and 28.79% earning incomes less than $35,000. About 15% of the population in our community is below the federal poverty line.
Our community also has varied education levels. 268,042 residents have less than a high school degree, 191,220 have a high school degree, 286,147 have some college education, 180,201 have a bachelor’s degree and 88,725 have a masters degree or higher.