ANTI-POVERTY POLICIES & PROGRAMS
Safety net policies like food assistance, housing assistance, and family tax credits keep millions of Americans from poverty each year and reduce hardship for millions more. We use our expertise in poverty data and measurement to capture the impact of anti-poverty policy and programs and assess proposals for policy change nationwide and in New York City.
Child Care and Paid Family Leave
Caregiving can be a logistical challenge, especially for those with lower incomes. Paid family and medical leave ensures families can recover from illness, welcome new babies, and care for each other without straining family finances. Affordable and high-quality child care can keep families connected to work, reduce poverty, and improve education outcomes. Public investment in care infrastructure can make a difference.
Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is one of the largest federal investments in children. It is also a powerful policy tool to help end child poverty and grow the middle class. The recent Child Tax Credit expansion transformed the credit into monthly cash payment similar to a national child allowance. Our research shows how this important policy change can dramatically cut child poverty and yields high returns for society.
COVID-19 Relief
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an economic crisis that threatened unprecedented rises in poverty, hunger, and hardship nationwide. We developed new tools to measure poverty and the impact of economic relief policies in real-time. Our findings reveal federal pandemic relief efforts blunted the worst of the potential effects of the crisis, but there remains a critical need for continued economic relief.
Employment
Good jobs can keep people out of poverty, but many workers face barriers to employment or higher wages. When unemployment is high, unemployment benefits can help families replace lost wages while also boosting the economy. Our research explores the anti-poverty effects of policies such as unemployment insurance, the minimum wage, guaranteed jobs programs, and more.
Food
Millions of people struggle to meet their most basic food and nutrition needs. Public supports like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) help low- and moderate-income families purchase food, avoid hunger and food insecurity, and free up household resources to cover other needs. They are also proven anti-poverty tools with long-term benefits for health and well-being.
Housing
Housing costs increasingly consume household budgets. Rental assistance, through established programs such as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program or policy proposals for a Renter’s Credit, can make quality homes more affordable. Energy assistance, such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), can help ensure families cover necessary utilities. Our research explores the ways in which housing policy can be an important anti-poverty tool.
Tax Credits
The tax system is a critical part of the safety net. Tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are two of the largest anti-poverty programs and positively impact children’s health and education. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit helps families cover the cost of child care and tax credits for housing, education, and energy can all increase family resources. Our research examines the ways in which tax policy can be a tool to reduce poverty and improve family economic security.
