Despite New York’s reputation as a hub of innovation and progress, we rank 40th in the nation for child poverty. That’s right: Children here are more likely to live in poverty than in dozens of other states. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a harsh reality affecting 1 in 5 children and costing New York taxpayers nearly $60 billion annually.
But lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have committed to do better. In 2021, in a near-unanimous vote, lawmakers passed the Child Poverty Reduction Act. This landmark bipartisan legislation requires the state to reduce child poverty rates by 50% by 2031.
Reducing child poverty strengthens our economy, enhances public health and fosters safer communities, benefiting all New Yorkers. We are three years into New York’s commitment to halve child poverty. To achieve that goal, it is crucial that Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 executive budget, and eventually the enacted budget, feature the evidence-based long-term investments recommended by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council.
One investment that has proven particularly effective in meaningfully reducing child poverty is the child tax credit. When the federal government temporarily expanded the child tax credit during the pandemic, child poverty dropped by nearly half, both nationally and in New York, with children of color and children from low-income households seeing the greatest impact. This simple, effective solution worked because it put money directly into the hands of families, allowing them to meet their basic needs and begin to build a more secure future.
New York’s child tax credit, called the Empire State Child Credit, has the potential to play a pivotal role in achieving our child poverty reduction goals — if it can provide meaningful financial relief. The current child tax credit overlooks families with the lowest incomes and provides just $330 annually to New York families.
With her inflation refund proposal, Hochul recently acknowledged the importance of putting more cash in New Yorkers’ pockets as inflation and rising costs of living continue to put a strain on families across the socioeconomic spectrum. But one-time rebates that do not prioritize financially struggling families will fail to break cycles of poverty. Investments in families need to be ongoing and focused on those most in need.
The child tax credit’s $330 per child is simply not enough to cover a year’s worth of necessities, let alone lift a family out of poverty — even if it is supplemented by a $500 one-time rebate. By permanently increasing the credit to $1,500 per child annually and expanding eligibility requirements to ensure this money reaches the pockets of the families who need it most, we could reduce child poverty by more than 23% across the state. That alone will propel New York nearly halfway to its 50% reduction goal.
New York’s children urgently need our support; we cannot afford to wait. Hochul must take action to ensure our children grow up safe, secure and healthy, with access to the opportunities every parent wants for their child. New York’s leaders must make budget choices that break the cycle of poverty and uplift our children.
I urge our leaders to make a permanent increase in the state child tax credit a top priority. It’s not just good social and economic policy; it’s the right thing to do for New York’s children and for our collective future.
Kate Breslin is the president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy and an appointee to New York’s Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council.