The Persistence of Poverty in New York City

The Poverty Tracker reveals that a surprisingly high number of New Yorkers experienced poverty or other disadvantages when measured over three years instead of a single point in time.

Findings

• Nearly half of all participants reported experiencing at least one spell of poverty over the three-year period

• Moreover, over 70% of  New Yorkers suffered from at least one disadvantage—income poverty, severe material  hardship or poor health—at some point during the three-year period of the study. 

• The vast majority of New Yorkers suffering from persistent material hardship throughout the period suffered multiple financial shocks. By contrast, about 40% of those reporting no hardship also suffered multiple financial shocks.

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The Poverty Tracker is a longitudinal study of the dynamics of poverty and disadvantage in New York City. It is a joint project of Robin Hood and Columbia University.