Digging deeper than stats on poverty
To the Editor,
While recent U.S. Census figures illustrate a declining national poverty rate, down to 12.7 percent in 2016 from 13.5 percent in 2015, the inescapable fact was that nationally more than 40 million people were living in poverty. New York City similarly has witnessed a slight decline as well. Yet a report from NYU’s Furman Center found that 44.8 percent of New Yorkers were living in what were termed “extreme” or “high” poverty neighborhoods last year.
These troublesome findings highlight a need to ensure that New Yorkers confronting economic insecurity are connected with resources to improve their living standards. This needs to be a priority to improve healthcare, employment, and quality of life across our city.
For more than 100 years, the Women’s City Club of New York has worked to address equity issues, championing policies that increase access and secure rights for those who are struggling to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.
