The New York City Government Poverty Measure is released NYC Opportunity annually by the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. The measure is a more realistic metric than the official poverty measure released by the federal government and one that 2018 Poverty Report provides a detailed description of the nature of poverty in New York City. This year’s report contains data from 2005-2016, www1.nyc.gov/site/opportunity/poverty-in-nyc/poverty-measure.page the most recent data available. Highlights of our findings are shown below. What is the NYCgov NYCgov Poverty and Near Poverty Measure? Poverty Rates, 2014–2016 Measuring poverty involves setting a threshold (where is the poverty line?) and calculating income (how much of what?) The NYCgov poverty measure is a more realistic 45.1% NYCgov Near Poverty measure of poverty than the federal poverty measure. The NYCgov threshold is based on national spending on necessities: food, shelter, clothing and utilities and is adjusted for the higher cost of housing in New York City. The threshold varies by family size. 44.2% The NYCgov income measure includes multiple resources: after-tax earnings (including tax credits) and the value of cash and in-kind benefits (SNAP, housing vouchers, etc.). We subtract from this necessary expenses: medical spending plus commuting and 43.6% childcare for workers to derive total income. 20.6% NYCgov Poverty The poverty rate is the percent of the population whose NYCgov income is less than the NYCgov threshold. The near poverty rate shown here represents the percent 19.9% of the population with income up to 150 percent of their threshold. 19.5% The federal poverty measure’s threshold is based only on minimal food costs and is the same for the entire U.S. Income used in that measure is only pre-tax cash earnings. 2014 2015 2016 In 2016, there were 141,000 fewer people in poverty or near 141,000 poverty than in 2013 We are making progress on our commitment to move 800,000 people out of poverty or near poverty by 2025 nyc.gov/opportunity Poverty in NYC, 5-Year Trends 2012 2016 Poverty by Race and Ethnicity Total New York City 20.7% 19.5% Gender 2012 24.8 Hispanic, Any Race Hispanic, Any Males 19.8% 18.1% 2013 24.9 Females 21.5% 20.7% 2014 24.6 Age Group 2015 24.6 Under 18 24.5% 22.2% 2016 23.9 18 through 64 19.5% 18.3% 28.0 65 and Older 20.3% 20.8% Non- Hispanic Asian 2012 Children (under 18), by Presence of Parent 2013 25.8 One Parent 36.4% 32.6% 2014 26.6 Two Parents 18.1% 17.0% 2015 23.4 Nativity/Citizenship 2016 24.1 Citizen by Birth 18.7% 1 7.6% Naturalized Citizen 21.7 19.7% 19.1% Non- Hispanic Black 2012 Not a Citizen 28.0% 26.5% 2013 21.1 Educational Attainment (adults 18 to 64) 2014 21.3 Less than High School 32.8% 31.5% 2015 21.2 High School Degree 23.5% 22.9% 2016 19.2 Some College 16.5% 16.9% Non- Hispanic White 2012 13.6 Bachelor’s Degree or Higher 8.6% 8.0% 2013 14.3 Work Experience (adults 18 to 64) Full-Time, 2014 13.7 Year-Round 7.8% 7.2% 2015 13.3 Some Work 23.1% 23.3% 2016 13.4 No Work 38.3% 37.4% Poverty in Community Districts The map displays poverty rates for the 55 community districts (CDs) in NYC. Because the annual data sample for each CD is relatively small, the rates shown here are five-year averages. <15% ≥15% to <20% ≥20% to <25% ≥25% to <30% ≥30% The Poverty Gap $6.18 The poverty gap is the difference between a family’s resources and the poverty threshold. For example, the total gap for all New Yorkers $2.47 in poverty is $6.18 billion. Poverty gap totals are shown for several groups. The total poverty gap among single, nonelderly adults ($2.47 billion) is greater than that for families with $1.83 children ($1.83 billion). 2016 All NYC Residents Single Nonelderly Adults $0.74 Families with children Families with children 4 and under $0.62 Families with children 3 and under *All $ amounts are in billions Poverty Thresholds by Family Size The NYCgov threshold represents a minimal standard of need for food, shelter, clothing and One Adult, No Child $15,017 utilities and is adjusted for the higher cost of housing in New York City. The threshold varies by family size and is higher than the federal Two Adults, No Child $21,174 poverty threshold. If family resources (including earnings, public assistance and net taxes One Adult, One Child $22,661 including tax credits) are lower than the poverty threshold, the family is classified as in poverty. One Adult, Two Children $26,903 Reference Family Threshold in NYC ($32,402) One Adult, Three Children $30,874 Two Adults, One Child $28,520 Two Adults, Two Children $32,402 Two Adults, Three Children $36,094 Policy Affects Poverty The NYCgov poverty measure allows us to Those items to the left and below the line measure the extent to which anti-poverty on the graph lower the poverty rate by the 2.9 programs and work-related tax credits can percentage points indicated. Those to the right 2.5 lift people over the poverty threshold. We raise the poverty rate. 2.1 also measure how work-related and medical expenses can pull people into poverty. 0.2 -0.3 -0.6 Commuting Payroll Taxes Payroll Medical Spending WIC Childcare -3.3 -3.3 -3.3 School Meals SNAP -5.6 -6.1 Income Taxes Social Security Other Cash Transfers Housing Adjustment Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity The City of New York nyc.gov/opportunity.