How Can NY Reduce Child Poverty? Panel Turns to Public for Ideas

A state panel is checking in on what more needs to be done to fulfill New York’s promise to cut the child poverty rate by half in the next five years.

The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, or CPRAC, held public hearings in Rochester and Albany this month as it considers a new round of recommendations to help the state reach its goal.

New York made that promise under a law signed in 2021, the Child Poverty Reduction Act.

But so far, the state is falling short.

Last year’s budget contained some of the council’s initial recommendations, including expanding the child tax credit, adding birth benefits for some public assistance recipients and a state-funded housing voucher program.

The Urban Institute found those measures will contribute to an 18% reduction in child poverty — not even halfway to 50%.

“Getting a 50% or more reduction in child poverty is certainly a tall task,” said Barbara Guinn, Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and co-chair of CPRAC. “It’s something that myself and all the members of the council are committed to, and so we definitely want the public to be engaged to follow our work and to reach out to elected officials as well to advocate.”

Kayla Mumtaz.

During the public hearings, community members cited the need for more investment in housing and childcare. They appreciated CPRAC taking the time to gather input.

“I think it’s important, because a lot of time these measures are taken without the community’s input, and it doesn’t actually help the community if the community is not telling you what’s wrong and what they need,” said Kayla Mumtaz, a parent who also works with the Alliance for Quality Education. “And also, each community is different, so some areas might be in need of something that another area is not.”

CPRAC members said they would plan to come up with new recommendations in the coming months but also urged the public to advocate with elected officials and policymakers.

“Personally, the real goal is let’s figure out how we can end child poverty,” said Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy. “Because we need our policymakers to be thinking about that with every single decision they make, not just with one or two, but every time they’re putting a new policy in place, we’d like them to be thinking about what impact will this have on the economic security of all of our children and families.”

More information on the council can be found here.

Image: The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council held a public hearing in Albany this month on child poverty. At the table are Barbara Guinn, commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center. (Samuel King/ New York Public News Network)