Blog
|
March 18, 2020 Latest Keeping Track Databook Shows What’s At-Risk If All Children Are Not Counted in the 2020 Census
For nearly 30 years, CCC’s Keeping Track of New York City’s Children data book has provided New Yorkers at large, government officials, philanthropic leaders, academics, and child and family service professionals with information on both welcomed and worrisome trends facing children and families across New York City. The 2020 edition highlights how, despite improved citywide outcomes, children and families continue to experience significant disparities based on their race and ethnicity, immigration status, and other demographics including the neighborhood in which they live. CCC is calling attention to these disparities as the self-response period of the 2020 Census begins because Black, Latino and Asian children, children in low-income families, and children in immigrant families are the most likely to be missed in the census count. Ways Census Data Are Used for FundingAn undercount jeopardizes federal resources for programs supporting nutrition, child care, education, health care, housing, and others that are essential in the city’s efforts to promote positive health and development outcomes for all children. Given the concerns around access to health care and human service supports that are front and center due to COVID-19, now is an important time to ensure that every New Yorker has information about the importance of completing the Census. Economic SecurityThe decennial census is the basis for determining the amount of federal funding to go to states for programs that support economic stability, such as food stamps and cash assistance. While the share of children living in poverty has fallen since the Great Recession, more than half of all NYC children continue to face the burden of poverty. In areas with higher rates of child poverty, SNAP is a critical resource for families. And yet, SNAP caseloads are declining dramatically, especially among immigrant families who may remain eligible but fear that participation in public programs might threaten the pathway to citizenship for one or more family members. Food Stamp (SNAP) RecipientsYear-Over-Year Change in SNAP Caseloads by Citizenship StatusHousingFunding for affordable housing programs such as Section 8 vouchers and payment program, Very Low to Moderate Income housing loans, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Public Housing Capital Fund, HOME program, Low Income Housing Tax Credit, are all contingent on the Census count. The number of families with children in homeless shelters grew 50% in the past decade as the growth in median rents has outpaced growth in median incomes substantially. And while the share of families with children returning to a NYC homeless shelter within a year of leaving is declining, but almost a quarter of families who exit shelter without a subsidy return within a year. Severe Rent Burden by Household Income Level, 2018Re-entries among Families with Children into DHS Shelter, by Exit with/out SubsidiesHealthThe census supports the health of children and families in multiple ways, including: distribution of federal funds for programs that promote health such as Health Insurance [Medicaid, Medicare, and SCHIP], Community Services Block Grant, Child Care and Development Block Grant, and Health Care Centers; and utilization of population data to plan for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and the location and funding of other health services. Health insurance coverage for children is nearly universal in NYC, but uninsured rates are high among Asian children and non-citizens. In some neighborhoods like Flushing, Bayside and Murray Hill/Stuyvesant, uninsured rates for children are more than double the city average. Children under 19 without Health Insurance
by Community District, 2018
|
Comments |
comments
Please keep all comments civil and on-topic. CCC reserves the right to remove any comments deemed inappropriate.