Nearly one out of seven New York residents live in poverty, according to newly released data by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. New York State has now surpassed the national average of poverty levels for the eighth consecutive year.
In addition, New York residents are fleeing the state at an alarming rate. Census data shows that New York State’s population fell by 365,000 from April 2020 to July 2021. New York was the third highest state in the nation for out-migration. New Jersey and Illinois were the only states that had more residents fleeing. The top inbound states are Vermont, South Dakota, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Florida, according to a nationwide survey conducted by United Van Lines.
Minorities living in New York State live in poverty at twice the rate of white people, DiNapoli noted in his report.
Statewide poverty levels have continuously exceeded the national average since 2014, just three years after disgraced ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo took office. He remained at the helm until 2021, when he was forced to resign and turn the reigns over to current Governor Kathy Hochul.
According to the report by DiNapoli, a Democrat, almost 2.7 million New Yorkers, or 13.9% of the state’s population, lived in poverty in 2021. This is in comparison to 12.8% of all Americans who live in poverty, DiNapoli stated.
New York State has been ranked 13th among all states with its residents living in poverty, the report continues. Additionally, New Yorkers have a higher poverty rate than its neighboring states as well as most large states.
DiNapoli is calling on federal and state leaders to help save New Yorkers from poverty. “Continued federal resources, along with a greater equity in state services, can help improve the lives of New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet,” DiNapoli stated.
For Hispanics, African-Americans, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and American Indians living in New York, the poverty rates are twice the rate of white New Yorkers. One out of every five Hispanics were below the poverty level in 2021, the report indicated.
For unmarried women who are the heads of households, poverty rates are four times the rate of married couples. In 2021, nearly 23% of unmarried female heads of households were in poverty.
The report also noted that poverty rates were much higher for children versus adults. In 2021, 18.5% of children lived in poverty.
DiNapoli’s report found more than $115 billion in public resources from federal, state, and local governments are used each year to assist low-income families. The federal government funds the bulk of the safety net, providing 87% of funding for major assistance and tax credit programs identified in the report.
“State Comptroller DiNapoli’s report presents sobering realities faced by New Yorkers in need of all ages, backgrounds, and locations across our state,” said New York State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, the Chairwoman of the Senate Social Services Committee.
New York State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, Chairman of the Children and Families Committee, thanked DiNapoli for the report “which puts facts and figures behind the realities for millions of struggling New Yorkers.”
Rev. Richard Witt, Executive Director of the Rural & Migrant Ministry, said, “I truly hope this report will lead our policy makers to prioritize anti-poverty measures and that all of us, as New Yorkers, will commit to real change.”
“The United Way of New York State commends the State Comptroller for bringing a spotlight to poverty trends in New York State,” said United Way’s New York State President Hugh Parry.
Cuomo, too, is now said to be homeless. Numerous reports have indicated that he has been shacking up with different family members since his departure from politics.
