CCC Testimony: City Council Oversight Hearing: Poverty Trends in NYC

Published December, 2011

CCC testified about the increase in poverty in New York City and the need to protect social service supports for families at the December 12, 2011 City Council Joint Community Development and General Welfare Committees Hearing.

The most recent U.S. Census data report shows that poverty is a staggeringly large problem in New York City, and that it has increased throughout the course of the recession, with 1 in 5 New Yorkers and 1 in 3 New York City children now living in poverty.

Given these stark figures, CCC’s testimony made several recommendations including: services that support and sustain low-income children and families, such as child care and after-school programs, should be protected; the state and the city should develop a housing subsidy program; the Summer Youth Employment program be available for more youth; tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) be deepened and expanded; the $ave NYC program that helps low-income New Yorkers save tax refunds be expanded; and that the Youth IDA’s for foster children be maintained.