Task force releases child poverty report, $9B recommendations

The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) has released a report with recommendations to cut child poverty in New York by 50% by 2031. The proposed measures, costing $9 billion, aim to build on prior initiatives like expanding the Empire State Child Credit, raising minimum wages, and allocating $7.5 billion for childcare, which have already reduced child poverty by 9.5%.

The report suggests additional investments in housing, public benefits, and tax credits. Key recommendations include revamping the Empire State Child Credit to $1,500 per child, doubling public assistance grants, and creating a state housing voucher program. Together, these measures could reduce child poverty by over 50%, with particular benefits for children under five and marginalized communities, such as Black and Hispanic families.

Advocates and legislators are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to prioritize these proposals in upcoming budgets. They highlight the long-term economic and social costs of child poverty, which affects over 800,000 children in the state. Cities like Syracuse and Rochester are disproportionately impacted, with child poverty rates exceeding 40%. CPRAC’s plan could help over 1.5 million families and address systemic inequities contributing to generational poverty.

Source: Rochester First