This article originally appeared on NYTimes.com
NEW YORK, Feb 27, 2025 — A new report from Columbia University and the anti-poverty group Robin Hood reveals that 25% of New York City residents cannot afford essentials like housing, food, and healthcare. Poverty in the city surged by seven percentage points in two years, nearly doubling the national average. The expiration of pandemic-era government aid played a major role in this increase.
Despite affordability being a top issue for both Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, the crisis remains severe. Hochul has proposed tax cuts and child tax credits, while Adams has pushed for affordable housing initiatives, but advocates argue that more substantial long-term solutions are needed.
“The city has so much wealth but also so much need,” said Richard Buery Jr., CEO of Robin Hood. “These are entirely human-made problems.”
Key Findings
- 26% of NYC children—420,000 kids—live in poverty.
- 58% of New Yorkers live in families earning below 200% of the poverty line—less than $94,000 for a couple with two children.
- Most low-income residents are employed or actively seeking work but still struggle to cover rent and food costs.