Child poverty is a big problem in our country. The latest census data shows that child poverty went up by almost 50% from 2021 to 2022. In New York State, the child poverty rate is 18.8%, which is higher than the national rate. Unfortunately, Syracuse is even worse, with a child poverty rate of 45.8%. So, what can we do about this?
Governor Kathy Hochul has set up a Childhood Poverty Reduction Council and given Onondaga County $12 million to start tackling this issue, focusing on the two zip codes with the highest rates: 13202 and 13204. After talking with community members, local leaders, and experts, I think the money should be used in three main areas: direct cash support, child care, and youth employment.
1. Direct Cash Support.
- Numerous studies have shown the impact that direct cash support can have on families experiencing poverty. Parents with low income often work jobs with unpredictable schedules and low wages thus making it extremely difficult to consistently meet children’s basic needs and potentially increasing the likelihood that they will have unwarranted interactions with the child welfare system. New York State has already begun to implement a pilot program that provides cash support to families to address these issues. This initiative presents an excellent opportunity for a long-term partnership between the county and the state, as it aligns with the state’s ongoing exploration of effective poverty alleviation strategies.Providing cash support is a direct and immediate way to tackle the lack of access to basic needs that the majority of the families dealing with poverty cite as the most pressing obstacle to transitioning out of poverty.
2. Affordable Childcare
- 54% of households in Syracuse with children under the age of 18 are women led households. Coupled this fact with the existing gender wage gap where women are paid 84 cents for every dollar earned by men then the need for affordable child care becomes evident.
3. Youth Employment.
- Investing in youth employment programs that focus on increasing awareness of career options and providing youth with steady income can assist with increasing protective factors that aid in breaking the cycle of poverty.
I am most in support of cash payments. No one knows what a family needs more than themselves. This same idea leads to the thinking behind my biggest point which is that this plan should not be created in an office amongst individuals who are not feeling the pain and repercussions of the effects of poverty. This plan must be created centering the voice of community members who reside in the targeted neighborhoods.
I want to thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in tackling poverty upstate New York. I’m cautiously optimistic that county leaders will come up with a plan to best serve our community; however, I would like to see this be an open process that includes the people who feel the harsh outcomes of poverty and who will eventually reap the benefits of a successful program.
