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RALLY TO END CHILD POVERTY BRINGS HUNDREDS TO THE NEW YORK STATE CAPITOL
In Advance of the Release of One-House Budget Proposals, the New York Can End Child Poverty Coalition, along with Advocates from across the State, Urged New York’s Leadership to Invest in Solutions to End Child Poverty
Coalition featured Lawmakers, Advocates, Community Leaders, and Students
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 5, 2025) – Today, the New York Can End Child Poverty Coalition was joined by advocates, legislators, students, and community leaders from across New York State at the New York State Capitol’s Million Dollar Staircase for a powerful rally urging state leaders to prioritize child poverty reduction in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
With the release of one-house budget proposals approaching, speakers called on Governor Hochul and the legislature to adopt the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council’s (CPRAC) recommendations, which include expanding tax credits for families, strengthening safety net programs, and increasing access to affordable housing.
Nearly one in five children in New York live in poverty, with rates even higher among children of color. As families continue to face financial struggles and federal policies shift, it is crucial for New York to take bold steps to uplift families and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.
“Now is the time for New York to make a lasting impact on our children’s futures. By fully embracing the recommendations that will lift children out of poverty and help them thrive, not just survive, we can build a stronger, more prosperous state for all. The well-being of our children is directly tied to our state’s future, and it’s crucial that we prioritize their needs in this year’s budget,” said Kate Breslin, President & CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy.
“Child Poverty in New York State persists–nearly 1 in 5 New York children live in poverty. That number is far worse In Rochester, with almost half of all our children experiencing poverty from years of divestment. I was proud to co-sponsor the Child Poverty Reduction Act, which created the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) to uplift our younger New Yorkers–and I am committed to Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative (RMAPI)’s missions to combat child poverty with real, sustained action,” said Senator Samra G. Brouk.
“Poverty is not just a statistic—it is a daily reality for too many New Yorkers, especially our children. We cannot be content with merely reducing poverty; we must commit to eliminating it. Every child deserves a fair start in life, every family deserves stability, and every community deserves the resources to thrive. This requires bold action—investing in housing, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities that break the cycle of poverty for good,” said Assemblywoman Maritza Davila, Chair of the Assembly Social Services Committee.
“No family can cover all of their basic needs on less than $20 per day, but New York’s outdated cash assistance allowances expect families to do the impossible. Nearly 400,000 families in our state rely on cash assistance to get by each month, but with decades-old grants, it is becoming harder and harder to pay rent, utilities and put food on the table. As outlined in the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee’s report, ending child poverty is within reach in New York State but will require bold action in our state budget. I am proud to be partnering with this coalition to pass and fund a host of reforms, including my bills to provide long-overdue increases to our cash assistance allowances,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Chair of the Assembly Housing Committee.
“As one of 12 children from a rural NY community, I have firsthand experience of child poverty. Today, we better understand that the detrimental effects of living in poverty can last years, if not a lifetime. Fortunately, thanks to the dedication and collaboration of many partners like the RMAPI and NY Can End Child Poverty Coalition, and the recommendations of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, we also know there are policies we can implement to help lift families up and into a brighter future. I am proud to stand with these partners, as well my many partners in government, to advocate for measures such as the Working Families Tax Credit, expanding nutrition benefits, housing vouchers, and workforce development opportunities so that New York can not only reach, but surpass, our goal of reducing child poverty by 50% in the next ten years,” said Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson, Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee.
“It is unacceptable that in our nation’s wealthiest state, nearly one in five children live in poverty. Child poverty impacts every corner of the state with Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo having some of the highest child poverty rates in the country. The Governor’s proposals are a step in the right direction but we need to go further. We need the full Working Families Tax Credit which will put more money back into the pockets of more families and lift children out of poverty,” said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi.
“Creating strong, independent and healthy adults means creating sturdy foundations for children to grow. Budget proposals like expanding the Child Tax Credit and universal school meals helps to uplift our families and supports better environments for child development, which is why I have long supported these proposals and will continue my fight for them during this years budget negotiations. New York State must put our families and children first during these very uncertain times,” said Assemblymember Jen Lundsford.
“With over a quarter of Rochester’s residents—many of them children—living in poverty, we cannot afford to stand idly by. 46% of children live below the poverty line in Rochester. This is completely unacceptable. These numbers are more than statistics; they represent real people struggling to make ends meet. We have a responsibility to continue to push for policies that provide livable wages, affordable housing, and strong educational opportunities. Investing in anti-poverty programs isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the way to build a better Rochester and New York for all,” said Assemblymember Demond Meeks.
“Poverty disproportionately impacts New York’s communities of color and directly affects our youth and children. The young people and children that we work alongside at CDF-NY come from diverse backgrounds, including those transitioning out of foster care, and we see firsthand how public assistance and benefits act as a lifeline to shape their futures. We must remain steadfast in protecting our children and advocate for all the CPRAC recommendations – including not only a robust child tax credit but also housing and food assistance – to be fully considered and enacted,” said Khin Mai Aung, State Director of the Children’s Defense Fund.
“United Way New York State is grateful to all the organizations that brought to light these critical issues. Our ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Report highlights the financial struggles of working families who earn above the federal poverty level but still cannot afford basic necessities. The findings strongly support initiatives like increasing the Empire State Child Credit, expanding housing assistance, strengthening public aid, and enhancing nutrition programs. By addressing the real cost of living and the barriers ALICE families face, these policies provide the targeted support needed to reduce child poverty, alleviate economic hardship, and create pathways to long-term financial stability for New York’s working families,” said Therese Daly, President & CEO of United Way of New York State.
“The fight against poverty is the fight of our epoch. The city I live in has 25.4% of its population living under the Federal poverty level. Real poverty is much higher. Every level of government has to be laser focused on changing this reality. This year’s budget must take action through investments proven to reduce poverty across New York State,” said Mark Emanatian, Director of the Capital District Area Labor Federation.
“It is imperative that leaders in New York State take immediate actions to correct historic injustice of poverty. While we have seen a decline in total poverty rates and child poverty across the state and here in Rochester, the rates remain stubbornly high and threaten the future of our community’s most vulnerable members.
Poverty has a dire impact on our children. The toxic stress of early poverty stunts their development, leading to opportunity gaps that can last a lifetime and create harm that perpetuates in our communities. Children in poverty are more likely to have poor academic achievement, drop out of high school and later become unemployed, experience economic hardship, and be involved in the criminal justice system. Children who experience poverty are also more likely to be poor at age 30 than children who never experience poverty.
The recent recommendations from the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council and budget proposals from Gov. Kathy Hochul present an opportunity to address this crisis head on, strengthening families and enabling upward mobility for all members of our community. We urge state lawmakers and Gov. Hochul to put our state’s children first and take immediate action on these recommendations,” said Aqua Y. Porter, Executive Director of the Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative.
Background: CPRAC Recommendations Provide a Roadmap for the Path Forward
On December 18, 2024, the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) voted on and passed its recommendations to help New York State achieve the historic goal of cutting child poverty by 50% by 2031.
CPRAC’s recommendations to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature are built on proven strategies to combat child poverty, including:
- Expanding the Child Tax Credit to ensure it is fully refundable, inclusive of all families, and increased to $1,500 per child.
- Establishing a statewide rental assistance program to ensure stable and affordable housing.
- Increasing public assistance benefits to meet families’ basic needs and indexing them to inflation.
- Reintroducing state food assistance programs to fill gaps in federal SNAP coverage for children.
Background: New York’s Commitment to New York’s Children
In 2021/2022, the New York State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, the Child Poverty Reduction Act, committing the State to reduce child poverty by 50% over 10 years, with attention to racial equity. This bipartisan, nation-leading law created the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, composed of state leaders, advocates, and community members, to develop evidence-based recommendations and set yearly benchmarks.
The Council also addresses the unequal impact of poverty on racial and ethnic communities, ensuring that solutions promote equity while advancing New York’s historic commitment to reducing child poverty.
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About New York Can End Child Poverty
The New York Can End Child Poverty campaign is composed of individuals and organizations from across New York State who are working to improve long-term outcomes for children and families from households experiencing economic hardship. We are dedicated to advancing public policies that support children and families while reducing child poverty and inequity. Learn more at www.newyorkcan.org.