Statewide plan to cut childhood poverty in half

by Dan Schrack

Rochester, N.Y. — There’s a new initiative in the works with a goal of cutting childhood poverty in half over the next decade.

It’s part of New York’s Child Poverty Reduction Act signed into law last year.

At the time, an estimated one in five children was living at or below the poverty line.

But in Rochester, nearly half of all city school students live in poverty.

The state tasked an advisory council, made up of administrators from different organizations and think tanks to create a blueprint that would empower the youngest members of the community – setting them up for success.

“The legislation calls for a number of regional hearings. So we’ve got to get out on the road and talk to people in Rochester, in Buffalo, in Jamestown, in Utica, and Long Island, all corners of the state to find out what people are experiencing day today and what they think would be helpful at either, lifting themselves out of poverty, and their children, or things that they’ve seen work in their community,” Policy Director, The Children’s Agenda, Pete Nabozny said.

Poverty levels impact everything from education, to crime, and even the future economy.

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