The Working Poor

Someone working full time, year-round at the current minimum wage earns approximately $15,000, pre-tax — which puts an individual with two dependants below the poverty level. With this in mind, it is easy to see why the working poor is one of the largest groups relying on soup kitchens and food pantries in New York City. Learn more below about our city's working poor with key statistics and stories from the people we help.

• More than one out of every five (21 percent) NYC residents standing in line at soup kitchens and food pantries are employed, and among them 57 percent work full time. (NYC Hunger Safety Net 2007)
• The average income for NYC households accessing emergency food that have employed members is $1,507 per month. (NYC Hunger Safety Net 2007)
• More than one-third (37 percent) of NYC households with an employed member experienced difficulty affording needed food in 2009. (NYC Hunger Experience 2009)
• Less than one-third (31 percent) of employed households accessing emergency food are enrolled in the federal Food Stamp Program, lower than the overall average of 46 percent. (NYC Hunger Safety Net 2007)