Research shows that experiencing hate can have wide-ranging negative impacts on individuals and communities. The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) and the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) included questions on the 2024 CHIS asking victims about the number of hate incidents they had experienced, the types of resources they needed, and whether they were able to access them. This policy brief highlights variations across several population groups and regions.

Findings: 1 in 5 (20%) Californians who experienced hate in the past year faced six or more hate acts in that time period. On average, the 3.1 million Californians ages 12 and older who encountered hate in the past year experienced 5.6 incidents per person. More than half (60%) of Californians who experienced hate did not get support or help following the incident, or for the most severe incident if more than one occurred. Nearly 1 in 3 (31%) of those who experienced hate had unmet needs for support (e.g., mental health support, legal assistance) after the act of hate, or after the most severe act if more than one occurred. Mental health support was both the most common support received (20%) after experiencing a hate incident or the most severe of multiple incidents, and among those who reported any unmet needs, the most common unmet need (38%).

Findings suggest the need for additional investments into culturally informed services and support for victims of hate, particularly in regions and populations where unmet needs are high.