The council tasked with reducing New York’s elevated child poverty rate plan to tell legislative leaders to expand the state’s child tax credit to lift low-income families across the state out of poverty.

New York has one of the largest economies in the world, but 18% of children in the state experience poverty — more than in 32 other states, according to the state comptroller's office.

Nearly 1 in 5 New York children live in poverty, which affects nearly half of children in some areas like Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse. The rate is even higher for people of color.

The state’s 17-member Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council will vote Dec. 18 to adopt a final report with data and recommendations to change state policy and reverse the trend.

“Allowing so many children to experience poverty or economic hardship is a policy choice,” said Kate Breslin, president and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy.

Breslin sits on the council, which met Tuesday in Albany to finalize draft recommendations to tackle child poverty in the state. Council members will urge the legislature to increase the maximum benefit of the state’s Child Tax Credit to $1,500 per child without age restrictions — up from $330 per child per year.

The group also wants lawmakers next year to expand affordable housing subsidies and public assistance programs, like SNAP benefits or food stamps, for low-income families.

“How do we make sure that they’re easier to access, that there aren’t as many barriers put up and that people don’t face those kinds of cliffs where if they get a 25-cent-per-hour raise, suddenly they lose child care assistance,” Breslin said.

The council met Tuesday as members close in on its final report of recommendations to be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders ahead of budget season.

The recommendations will shape the governor’s State of the State address and executive budget proposal to be released in January, and give direction to a Democratic Legislature concerned about how President-elect Donald Trump's next administration will impact New York's federal aid.

“We're going to show the federal government, which is also going to be considering some tax policy changes, we're showing them how you do family-focused child tax policy that helps address affordability issues and helps the families out of poverty,” said council member Pete Nabozny, director of The Children’s Agenda.

Over a hundred advocates from across the state rallied at the Capitol after Tuesday's meeting — calling for more cash assistance for low-income families.

New York State United Teachers President Melinda Person spoke at the rally on the Capitol steps in support of efforts to expand the state’s child tax credit and other public assistance programs like SNAP benefits, adding the fight is a labor issue.

The president of NYSUT, the state teacher's union, also spoke at today's rally to reduce child poverty, saying the push to expand the state's child tax credit and expand public assistance programs like SNAP benefits to help New York families is a labor issue.

“A state that boasts over 135 billionaires, all the while 1 in 5 children live in poverty?” Person said. “The gap between the rich and the poor just keeps growing. This is not acceptable. It is unjust and it is a moral failing that demands action.”

Lawmakers and other officials traveled to Albany to push the Legislature to adopt policies next year based on the council’s recommendations.
Several at the rally said state leaders will have to spend money to reduce child poverty across New York.

“People are the best arbiters of their own finances,” said Joseph Jones, director of policy advocacy and research with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies. “Giving them money, giving them resources will really be the way that we actually make a difference in ending, and in reducing, child poverty in the state.”

The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory was created two years ago when Hochul signed the Child Poverty Reduction Act to commit the state to slash its child poverty rate in half over the next decade.