Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Poverty in New York

New York state has one of the worst child poverty rates in the country. In New York City, one in every four children lives in poverty. Tens of thousands of children are not getting enough food to eat, and their families are struggling to make rent.

Evidence shows that such hardship follows children throughout their lives. They are less likely to complete high school or go to college, and once they become adults, they are more likely to experience financial instability and poor health. Children’s Aid, a nonprofit group that was founded in 1853, supports families in the city’s poorest neighborhoods so that young people have the best chance at living full, healthy lives.

A central part of the organization’s work is providing families with relief for two essential needs: housing and food. Direct assistance from Children’s Aid helps many families pay rent after they’ve fallen behind, buy groceries and afford clothes for the winter. And for students who find themselves unable to afford college tuition, funding from the group has allowed them to complete the semester. In addition to financial help, the organization provides free vision screenings and prescription glasses for school-age children.

Another important initiative is education. About half of New York students from third through eighth grade are not proficient in reading. Research shows that poor readers who fall behind their peers are more likely to drop out of high school and earn less money later in life, trapping them in poverty.