Healing California

The Center for Health Journalism has teamed with ethnic media organizations in California to report together on health equity, immigrant health, community well-being and gaps in health care in a unique collaborative learning effort. Learn more about the initiative here

By
Jian Zhao

在聖蓋博谷,為尋找可負擔住房的弱勢華人移民所設的「家庭旅館」或「寄宿屋」已存在多年。
對新來者而言,這些地方往往是落腳的第一站;
對年長者而言,則可能成為人生的最後一個住所。
有些人已在同一間寄宿屋住了數十年,早已對他人難以接受的惡劣環境認命。
這些寄宿屋狹窄、危險、缺乏尊嚴,
但同時也是一張脆弱的安全網,讓許多長者免於流落街頭。

By
Jian Zhao

In the San Gabriel Valley, boarding houses for vulnerable Chinese immigrants in search of affordable housing have operated for years. For new arrivals, these places are often the first stop. For elders, they can become the last. Some have lived in the same rooming houses for decades, resigned to conditions others would never accept. These rooming houses are cramped, unsafe, and undignified. Yet they are also a fragile safety net, keeping many elders from ending up on the street.

By
Mariana Duran

Health care providers in San Francisco are taking note of a growing interest in acupuncture among Latinos. In January 2025, the Mission Neighborhood Health Center (MNHC) opened its first acupuncture clinic in the Mission District, offering free and sliding-scale services. Appointments are now booked almost two months in advance. Many are middle-aged Latinos working low-paying, labor intensive jobs and Acupuncture helps them manage workplace injuries and chronic pain from years of hard labor. 

By
Carlos Alberto Trestini

Cuts to the food assistance program CalFresh in California could impact more than 735,000 beneficiaries. Latinos make up about 55% of all participants, making the program critical to address food insecurity within the community. These families often face disproportionate challenges in affording food, and program cuts could have a significant negative impact.