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Many Low-income New Yorkers Don’t Seek Help
Based on information gathered from 70 interviews, this report sheds light on why people do not look for the help they need.
The Persistence of Disadvantage in New York City
This report explores the relationships between demographics, persistence of disadvantage and “shocks.”
Dynamics of Disadvantage in New York City
The Spring 2016 report focuses on the dynamics and persistence of poverty and material hardship over time.
Meeting Needs of Low-income New Yorkers
This report reveals that many New Yorkers in need of assistance don’t seek help, and even if they do, are still unable to meet basic needs.
Income, Hardship and Health in New York City
This report explains how government measure of poverty are insufficient and many more New Yorkers than predicted are suffering.
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About the data

The statistics emerge from a survey developed by Columbia University and Robin Hood to provide a more accurate picture of poverty in New York City. The survey pool came from a fixed panel of approximately 2,300 residents from the five boroughs many from families living in poverty, those with an annual income of less than $11,722 per year for individuals and $23,497 for a family of four. To learn more about the methodology used for each report, see the corresponding sections below.

The numbers on the site were calculated from individually weighted values that represent each survey respondent and their household. Values are weighted by the number of New York City adults represented by each respondent, meaning the poverty level, household type, education, age, gender, and race. Survey also account for differential patterns of respondent attrition from the survey. In all sections other than Spring 2014, values represent only adults ages 18 and older. Poverty statistics, except for those presented in the Spring 2014 section, represent poverty dynamics for adults age 18 and older only. In the Spring and Fall 2014 sections, values are weighted by the number of people within each household, including both adults and children, and represent the total number of people in New York City living under the respective poverty lines.

All values were calculated from the number of respondents with definitive replies to survey questions. Multiple imputation procedures were used, however, to impute missing data for income, hardship, and health. The precise numbers presented as subheads are based solely on estimates derived from the Poverty Tracker survey sample. Exact population numbers in New York City are subject to sampling variability and a margin of error around the sample estimates.

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What are common factors among New Yorkers in extended poverty?
Fall 2016

Data in this section come from the baseline survey, the 12-month follow-up survey, the 24-month follow-up survey, and data from survey waves in between these three annual surveys. All poverty and hardship values are rounded to the nearest integer and then summed.

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How often do New Yorkers move in and out of poverty?
Spring 2016

Data in this section come from the baseline survey, the 12-month follow-up survey, and data from survey waves in between these two annual surveys. For the pages on assets, debts, and receipt of help, all statistics were generated following multivariate models that control for demographics and assets and debts or help receipt, respectively. All poverty and hardship values are rounded to the nearest integer and then summed.

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How does disadvantage extend beyond official measures?
Spring 2014

Measures in the material hardship and health problems sections were calculated slightly differently.

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In what areas do New Yorkers struggle to find assistance?
Fall 2014

Data in this section come from the baseline survey, the first three-month follow-up survey, and the second six-month follow-up survey.

The precise numbers presented above are based solely on estimates derived from the Poverty Tracker survey sample.
Exact population numbers in New York City are subject to sampling variability and a margin of error around the sample estimate.

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Select different cohort buttons to color-code the survey results by poverty level, household type, education, age, gender, or race. In its default setting, the chart shows where respondents fell relative to the SPM poverty line.
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Which New Yorkers fare best, and do “shocks” make matters worse?
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How often do New Yorkers move in and out of poverty and hardship?
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Do official poverty measures capture the full scope of disadvantage?
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How are New Yorkers in need getting their needs met?
Monitoring disadvantage in New York City
Interact with the data that reveal how New Yorkers cope with poverty and deprivation over time

Persistence of poverty

While annual snapshots suggest that only a minority of New Yorkers experience individual disadvantages, the Poverty Tracker’s multi-year study reveals that a much larger number of New Yorkers ever experience poverty or other disadvantages.

Persistence of hardship

Persistence of poverty

Persistence of hardship

Severe material hardship shows greater persistence than poverty. The Poverty Tracker surveyed whether New Yorkers faced a persistent shortage of critical resources or underwent an episode of acute deprivation, such as staying in a shelter, having utilities shut off or being unable to pay for a doctor.

Persistence of poor health

Persistence of hardship

Persistence of poor health

Many New Yorkers report that they are in poor health or have a work-limiting health condition. And not surprisingly, these problems are relatively persistent over the three year survey period.

Household shocks compound disadvantage

Persistence of poor health

Household shocks compound disadvantage

New Yorkers who suffer from more persistent disadvantage experienced more shocks. The Poverty Tracker collects data on five types of shocks: financial, relationship dissolution, crime victimization or loss of property, accident or illness, or encounters with law enforcement.

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Poverty isn’t permanent

While annual snapshots may tell us that the population experiencing poverty has barely changed, a closer look at the data reveals that from year to year, more people move in and out of poverty than remain persistently poor.

Age
Education

Gender
Race

Hardship is more persistent than poverty

Poverty isn’t permanent

Hardship is more persistent than poverty

The number of people suffering from material hardship, defined as the chronic or acute inability to make ends meet, remained relatively unchanged from year to year. Still, some groups were more persistently afflicted than others. Further, many more New Yorkers experienced material hardship than poverty.

Lacking finances needed for food, housing, medical care, or utilities
Age
Education

Gender
Race

Assets can prevent disadvantage

Hardship is more persistent than poverty

Assets can prevent disadvantage

New Yorkers who owned more assets, such as a home, a car, or savings, are less likely to face either poverty or hardship than those with fewer resources.

Poverty
Hardship

Debt can lead to hardship

Assets can prevent disadvantage

Debt can lead to hardship

New Yorkers with higher levels of debt are more vulnerable to material hardship. But surprisingly, those with more debt are less likely to enter poverty than those with little debt. Because individuals have to meet income thresholds to qualify for large loans in the first place, those with more debt are also less often in poverty.

Poverty
Hardship

Receiving help can make a difference

Debt can lead to hardship

Receiving help can make a difference

Government and social service assistance help New Yorkers escape poverty and hardship. Both are also effective in keeping people out of disadvantage in the first place.

Poverty
Hardship

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The Official Poverty Measure Is Wrong

The federal government developed the Official Poverty Measure (OPM) in the 1960s, and it doesn’t reflect the massive changes to the American family over the past 50 years. The Official measure is based solely on minimum income level needed to afford food and meet daily needs. Yet the measure doesn’t account for the rising costs of living expenses, the geographic variation in costs of living, or the full spectrum of income sources families use to meet daily needs.

How many New Yorkers
are actually in poverty?

The OPM

Nearly One In Four New Yorkers Face Income Poverty

The federal government recently introduced the Supplemental Poverty Measure. It is also based on income, but it incorporates the expenses of basic living necessities — food, shelter, clothing and utilities, the geographic variation in living costs, and it adjusts for the variety of factors that impact income to include government benefits and tax credits. The Poverty Tracker used the SPM methodology and found that more than 1.9 million people in New York City are living in poverty.

What if income doesn’t
capture the whole story?

Income Hardship

37% Of New Yorkers
Suffer Severe
Material Hardships

In 2012 nearly four of ten New Yorkers faced a persistent shortage of critical resources or underwent an episode of acute deprivation, such as staying in a shelter, having utilities shut off or being unable to pay for a doctor.

Material hardships
Financial
Food
Utilities
Housing
Medical

How is health tied to scarce
financial and material resources?

Material Hardship

Health Challenges Are More Prevalent For Those Under the Poverty Line

While people may suffer from health and related challenges regardless of their economic situation, indicators of well-being are often tied to poverty and material hardship. The numbers of New Yorkers reporting poor health or a severe work-limiting health condition increases under the poverty line.

How many New Yorkers experience multiple
forms of disadvantage at a time?

Health Challenges

More Than Half Of New Yorkers Face At Least One Disadvantage

53% of city residents struggled with income poverty, severe material hardship, or health-related challenges in 2012. Nearly one in five New Yorkers experienced two types of disadvantage simultaneously. 4% experienced all three disadvantages.

income
Hardship
Health

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Nearly Half Of New Yorkers Suffer From Chronic Health Challenges

New Yorkers are suffering from chronic health issues at an alarming rate, with hypertension leading the way as the most prevalent health issue. As obesity rates climb in the city, prevalence of diabetes and hypertension are expected to increase as well, placing strains upon the city’s health care systems.

Health Troubles
Asthma
Diabetes
Hypertension

How many New Yorkers were
hospitalized?

Chronic Illnesses

More Than One In Ten New Yorkers Were Hospitalized Over a Single Year

12% of New Yorkers reported that they stayed overnight in the hospital during the preceding 12 months. Among those hospitalized, the largest proportion had incomes just above the Supplemental Poverty threshold.

Which New Yorkers are uninsured?

Hospitalization

New Yorkers Across Income Levels Lack Health Insurance

Many New Yorkers reported that they were not covered by any type of health insurance. Those lacking insurance come from all income levels. As this data was gathered before the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was implemented, the percentage of uninsured New Yorkers may decrease in the future.

Do people receive the help they need?

Uninsured

Those Who Seek Help Don’t Always Receive the Assistance They Need

New Yorkers reported a need for assistance in nine categories ranging from household bills to food, and from legal issues to housing. Yet not all New Yorkers who need additional services ask for assistance. About half of those who need help do not get the help they seek from family, government agencies or social service organizations.

Support Services

Sought Help
Got Help
Got All Help

How do New Yorkers regard
neighborhood services?

Assistance

Most New Yorkers Complain About Neighborhood Services

When asked about the quality of city-provided services, many New Yorkers rated services in their neighborhood as “poor.” Sanitation, police, and crime-related issues drew the greatest number of low ratings.

Neighborhood Services
Health
Sanitation
Recreation
Crime
Transportation

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