“When our children face hunger, instability, and lack of opportunity, it impacts the entire community—today and for generations to come. We must commit to ensuring every child has the resources they need to thrive: adequate cash assistance, nutritious meals, quality education, and safe and affordable housing. By taking action now, we can break the cycle of poverty and build a future where every child has a fair chance to succeed,” – Assemblymember Maritza Davila
New York children are more likely to live in poverty than in 32 other states, with 18% (nearly one in five) experiencing poverty in 2023. The rate is even higher for children of color.
Over 200 advocates from across New York State gathered outside the State Capitol building on Tuesday, November 19th, rallying in support of New York State’s child poverty reduction goals and actions.
Spearheaded by the New York Can End Child Poverty campaign, the large group included parents, legislators, educators, pediatricians, nurses, child care providers, economists, youth leaders, labor unions, faith leaders, and more.
Buses from Rochester, Syracuse, NYC, and Westchester traveled to Albany, bringing New Yorkers who believe that New York Can – and must – End Child Poverty. The coalition has been leading the way in ensuring that the state follows through on its nation-leading goal of reducing child poverty by 50% by 2032.
The existence of child poverty in one of the richest states in the nation is unacceptable -that our rates remain so high is a moral failing that the state has committed to correcting. And this group stood up to say: Now is the time.
“Poverty is not inevitable. It is a policy choice. No child should have to worry where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep at night in one of the wealthiest and most prosperous states in our nation,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person.
The campaign is supporting Governor Hochul and state leaders in making meaningful and immediate budget investments in policies proven to reduce child poverty. Those policies include a robust child tax credit, accessible and meaningful public assistance, and housing vouchers.
At a time when many families struggle to make ends meet, and a time of shifting Federal priorities, New York State must be a leader in uplifting families and making New York the best place to raise a family.
The rally followed a meeting of the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC), which will vote in December on public policy recommendations to help the state meet its child poverty reduction goal by 2032. The broad coalition looks forward to CPRAC’s December vote and to the forthcoming state budget.
“The recommendations identified by the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council—which include increasing cash assistance and an expansion of food assistance, housing assistance, and tax credits—provide much overdue relief to those made most vulnerable. While we continue to work toward structural changes that target the root of this economic deprivation, we urge the Governor to begin the process by committing to making these recommendations a reality.” – Joseph Jones, Director of Policy, Advocacy, & Research at FPWA
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 11 years, with attention to racial equity. The nation-leading law had nearly unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate and Assembly.
When Governor Hochul signed the Act into law, New York became a leader in creating a measurable goal toward ending child poverty. New York’s leaders made it clear that our state will no longer tolerate having two in five children experiencing severe economic hardship.
Among other provisions, the Act established the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, chaired by the Executive Chamber (Office of the Governor) and the Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). Appointed Council members include NYS agency leaders, advocates, impacted community members, heads of county social services departments, and others working to end and mitigate child poverty in New York State. The Council is charged with establishing a timeline, inclusive of yearly benchmarks, for reducing child poverty in the state by 50% by 2033 and developing evidence-based reports and recommendations. Additionally, the Council must consider the disproportionate impact poverty has on various racial and ethnic communities and what policies may assist in alleviating such disparities.
Read all quotes from rally participants here.
