New York state is one of the wealthiest regions in the world. Our state has the 10th largest economy in the world and boasts 135 billionaires and 340,000 millionaires. The average income of the top 1% of New Yorkers is $2.2 million.
Compare that with the other side of the coin: 2.7 million New Yorkers live in poverty, including 760,000 children. That’s one out of every five children in our state experiencing poverty, worse than the national average. New York state ranks 45th in economic well-being and nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness at some point last year.
We know that two-thirds of the factors that affect a child’s learning and academic performance occur outside of the classroom. By reducing child poverty in New York state, we can help ensure that students are able to focus in school on what they are there for: to learn.
We can help our students who have health issues from lack of food or the inability to receive medical treatment. We can ensure that students have basic necessities like hygiene products and clean clothing.
To help combat childhood poverty, NYSUT is supporting legislation for universal school meals in New York state, along with a Working Families Tax Credit and New York State BABY Benefit. The union is also committed to ensuring that every New Yorker has access to safe, affordable housing.
Learn more about NYSUT’s efforts to fight childhood poverty at 1in5NY.org.