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Upholding New York’s Commitment to Reduce Child Poverty

Upholding New York’s Commitment to Reduce Child Poverty

by | Mar 3, 2026 | Data, News

The Promise

All children in New York State should grow up free from the hardships of poverty. Recognizing this, New York leaders enacted the landmark Child Poverty Reduction Act (CPRA), committing in statute to halve child poverty by 2031. At the end of 2024, the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council released policy recommendations to drive the State toward its statutory goal. Now is the time for New York leaders to implement these recommendations and meet the state’s child poverty reduction commitment.

The Challenge

As the federal government acts to eliminate support for low-income families, New York’s leaders must ensure every family has access to the resources they need to thrive. The New York State 2025-26 budget included significant investments to reduce child poverty. These steps toward economic security for all New York families must be followed by further intentional investments focused on low-income children. In 2026, those investments will be crucial to protect New York’s children from the harms of federal actions while making New York State the best place to raise a child.

What We Know

Child poverty in New York State continues to exceed the national rate, as it has for more than a decade. In 2023, approximately 731,672 New York children, over 18%, experienced poverty.1 Those rates are significantly higher in many areas around the state—some urban, some rural, some suburban. Nearly 35% of children in Bronx County and more than 25% in Oswego County live in poverty.2 Child poverty rates in many New York cities far exceed the state average rate, with the highest child poverty rates among large and moderate-sized cities reaching 46% in Syracuse, 42% in Binghamton, and 41% in both Troy and Rochester.3 Due to systemic, historic, and ongoing racism embedded in public systems, Black and brown children experience poverty at much higher rates than children who are white.

Income inequality in the state has continued to increase, with wages increasing by the highest percentage for the highest income earners and the lowest percentage for the lowest income New Yorkers from 2023 to 2024.4 Households in the highest-income quintile (top 20%) have income that is 20 times higher than the lowest-income quintile (bottom 20%).5 Income inequality in New York, as measured by the Gini coefficient, ties with Washington, D.C. for worst in the nation.6 Income inequality has real impacts on children and families and has been shown to result in poorer health outcomes for low-income individuals, and increased stress and anxiety.7

State Policy Solutions

 

In 2026, federal program and funding changes will disproportionately hurt low-income children, families, and communities. That means it is more important than ever for New York State to proactively address systemic inequities and invest in initiatives that support healthy and thriving children, resourced families, and safe and welcoming communities. All New York children should grow up free from the stress and strains of poverty.

Solutions proven to support families and combat child poverty include providing:

  • Robust, refundable tax credits and cash assistance;
  • Housing and nutritional supports for all families, no matter where they were born;
  • Child care assistance for all families, regardless of immigration status, work hours, or minimum earnings, inclusive of children with disabilities; and
  • Resources and services for families that are free from unnecessary, overly-intrusive administrative burdens. These should be structured to phase out gradually to minimize benefits cliffs that too often send families right back into economic insecurity upon receiving a modest income bump.

People are just struggling all around, no matter your background. So to me that speaks to a systemic issue more so than an individual choice.

—Parent, Monroe County

More Data on the State of New York's Children

1 U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months. American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S1701 [data set]. 

Note: Due to a delay in the release of ACS 5-year estimates, originally scheduled to release in December 2025, this analysis uses the 2023 ACS 5-year Estimates.
2 U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months. American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S1701 [data set]. 
3 U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months. American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Table S1701 [data set]. 
4 Gusdorf, N. (2025). New Data Show Rising Inequality, Strong Wage Growth for Top Earners. Fiscal Policy Institute.
5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Consumer Expenditure Surveys, New York: Quintiles of income before taxes, 2022-2023.
6 SHADAC. (n.d.) State Health Compare: Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient).
7 Avanceña, A. L. V., DeLuca, E. K., Iott, B., Mauri, A., Miller, N., Eisenberg, D., & Hutton, D. W. (2021). Income and Income Inequality Are a Matter of Life and Death. What Can Policymakers Do About It?.

*For all sources and computations, go to: https://scaany.org/sonyc-sources-2026

Growing a Brighter Future for New York’s Children: Dr. David Harris’s $20,000 Matching Gift Challenge 

Growing a Brighter Future for New York’s Children: Dr. David Harris’s $20,000 Matching Gift Challenge 

by | May 16, 2025 | News

This May, longtime board member Dr. David Harris has generously pledged a $20,000 Matching Gift Challenge to support the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. That means every dollar you give—right now—will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000. We are grateful for this challenge and hope you can join us any way you can! 

Give Now!

Meet Schuyler Center Trustee and Board Member Dr. David Harris

Dr. David Harris, a board certified in the medical specialties of pediatrics and preventive medicine, joined the Schuyler Center Board of Trustees in February 1992 and has been a thoughtful, loyal, inquisitive, caring, and generous participant ever since. He is a proud public health leader, believing strongly in the good it has done for society over the centuries.  

Dr. Harris served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Medical and Health Research Association of New York City, Inc.; the Governor’s Citizen Advisory Committee on Permanent Disposal Facilities Siting and Disposal Method Selection of Low-Level Radioactive Wastes; and the State Board for Medicine. He has written and published many scientific papers on topics in public health and preventive medicine.   

His other notable achievements include serving in the US Navy and rising to the rank of Lietuenant Commander, serving as Commissioner of the Suffolk County Health Services, Associate Director of Mount Sinai Hospital, and Deputy Commissioner in the New York City Department of Health.  

We are grateful for his generosity and his longtime support of the Schuyler Center.  

A letter from Dr. Harris

May 15, 2025 

Throughout my career as a pediatrician, educator, and public health official—and now in retirement—I’ve held one conviction above all: we can and should ensure children have the chance to grow up healthy, safe, and hopeful – no matter their parents’ income, race, zip code, or where they were born.  

I strongly believe that when we come together to develop and implement better public policy, we can create the opportunity that all New York children need and deserve. That’s why I joined the Schuyler Center board more than 30 years ago and why I give. I urge you to join me and make a gift today! 

 Schuyler Center works to improve the structures that can facilitate or hinder opportunity. This year, Schuyler Center’s advocacy has resulted in important wins for New York families, including: 

  • The first permanent expansion of New York’s child tax credit, nearly tripling the amount of the credit. And, for the first time ever, families earning the lowest incomes will be able to receive the full credit. This means more money for groceries, rent, birthday gifts, and summer camp. 
  • Free school breakfast and lunch for every child across New York State, alleviating hunger and reducing the cost of food for families.  
  • Progress toward a family-focused child welfare system, in which child and family wellbeing is prioritized.  
  • Investments in the state’s child care assistance program, enabling more parents to go to work knowing their children are well cared for. 

Schuyler Center’s team works to ensure New York’s low-income children and families have access to health care, financial stability, child care, and community resources. The team doesn’t just fight for change—they help shape it, grounded in evidence and guided by compassion. 

Your help is needed today. Policy-oriented nonprofits – especially those focused on economic justice –are facing headwinds at a time when we need them most. Major changes to federal funding and programs are proposed and underway, leaving states, communities, and philanthropy to fill giant gaps. 

The Schuyler Center is driving real, lasting improvements for children and families across our state. Your gift isn’t just a donation—it’s an investment in a better tomorrow for all of us. Let’s build that future together. Please give as generously as you can. 

This month, I made a $20,000 commitment to the Schuyler Center—because I believe every child in New York deserves a strong start and a bright future. Now, I’m asking you—my fellow champions for change—to join me and help double that impact.  

With gratitude,  

David Harris, MD 

Trustee, Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy  
 

P.S. When you make your gift this May, I will match your donation dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact for children across New York. Visit scaany.org/donate/ to make your gift online today.