FPWA, Catholic Charities, and UJA Release Results of Citywide Anti-Poverty Study

The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, and UJA-Federation of New York have come together to commission a research study that examines the potential impact that select antipoverty policies—alone and in combination—can have in reducing poverty in New York City. This collaboration is born out of our shared values and traditions of caring for people in need, the unparalleled reach of our combined networks in helping all New Yorkers in need, and a fundamental belief in the God-given dignity and potential of each human person.

We have long been concerned about the rising numbers of needy New Yorkers, and through the many organizations we support, we have secured, mobilized, and provided critical resources and services to improve social, physical and emotional well-being, reduce loneliness, and improve opportunities for children to thrive despite economic and health challenges. We see many individuals striving to live lives of dignity and purpose, yet economic independence—and even basic necessities—still are far away. Our shared values and interests in a just and caring society lead us to not only weave a concrete and spiritual safety net, but also create a path that enables our most needy neighbors to achieve economic stability.

We joined together to analyze public policies in an effort to inform the conversation regarding how federal, state and city governments can more effectively invest in antipoverty programs. We engaged the Urban Institute to analyze the potential, quantifiable impacts of these policies and convened a diverse professional advisory group to broaden perspectives and input.

The outcomes of this research demonstrate that a targeted government investment in a set of antipoverty policies that provide job training, economic security, and support for working families can have a profound effect on the men, women, and children of New York City. The individual policies examined reduce poverty significantly—in one case by 26 percent. Combining them multiplies their impact: each policy combination that was tested show reductions in poverty even more significantly, ranging from 44 percent to 69 percent. The impacts that can be achieved through a targeted investment in a comprehensive antipoverty plan are clear.

Ending poverty in New York City will require a significant commitment of city, state, and federal resources. The Urban Institute’s analysis looks at impacts within a single fiscal year. But there is ample evidence from other research that demonstrates that these and other antipoverty programs can have a long-term and dramatic impact on improving the lives of individuals and their communities, and ultimately reducing government spending.

Read the full report HERE.