According to the 1990 U.S. Census, of the total 638,166 persons living in households in San Mateo County, 40,544 persons or 6.4% were living in households with public assistance. Other Bay Area counties showed a proportionate rate of persons living in households with Public Assistance ranging from 4.2% (Marin County) to 13% (San Francisco County).

The San Mateo County Human Services Agency provides caseload statistics by City/Zip Code areas for each of the Department's major programs. Major programs include AFDC (Aid for Families with Dependent Children), GA (General Assistance), Food Stamps and Medi-Cal.

For the quarter ending March 31, 1993, Text Table 13 shows the number of cases and persons receiving Public Assistance for major programs distributed by Subcounty areas, cities and zip codes in San Mateo County.

The greatest concentration of persons receiving aid from San Mateo's Human Services Agency encompasses the zip codes 94303, East Palo Alto with 3,269 persons receiving AFDC, 6,086 receiving Medi-Cal, and 3,285 receiving Food Stamps; and 94063, portion of Redwood City and North Fair Oaks with 1,839 persons receiving AFDC, 5,366 receiving Medi-Cal, and 2,066 receiving Food Stamps. Both of these zip code areas are located in the South County subarea giving South County the largest concentration of persons receiving public assistance in San Mateo County.