STATEMENT FROM NEW YORK CAN END CHILD POVERTY COALITION ON GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSALS
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 23, 2025) – “The New York Can End Child Poverty Coalition commends Governor Hochul for her FY2026 Executive Budget proposals released today, which allocate $800 million for expanding the state’s Child Tax Credit and $340 million for free universal school meals. These proposals mark meaningful steps forward in reducing child poverty, alleviating economic hardship for families, and ensuring that no child in New York is deprived of the resources needed to succeed and thrive.
The increase to the Child Tax Credit and the establishment of free school meals are essential measures that will provide immediate relief for families and help reduce financial stress. These initiatives will ensure more children have access to basic needs like nutritious meals and critical economic support, improving their ability to learn and thrive.
While these investments are significant, we must recognize that they only address part of the broader challenge of improving child poverty in New York. Achieving lasting progress requires long-term, sustainable investment to address the root causes of child poverty and ensure meaningful change. The Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) has provided a comprehensive roadmap to reduce child poverty by 50% by 2031, grounded in evidence-based recommendations. To achieve this historic goal, the Senate and Assembly must include CPRAC’s priorities in their One-House Budgets, and Governor Hochul and the Legislature must ensure full adoption of these proven solutions in the FY2026 Budget to deliver real, transformative change for New York’s children and families.
The New York Can End Child Poverty campaign, composed of advocates, parents, educators, pediatricians, youth, faith leaders, and others, believes that every child in New York deserves the opportunity to grow up free from the burden of poverty. Together, we can create a future where all families thrive.”
Background: CPRAC Recommendations Provide a Roadmap for the Path Forward
On December 18, 2024, the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) voted on and passed its recommendations to help New York State achieve the historic goal of cutting child poverty by 50% by 2031.
CPRAC’s recommendations to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature are built on proven strategies to combat child poverty, including:
Expanding the Child Tax Credit to ensure it is fully refundable, inclusive of all families, and increased to $1,500 per child.
- Establishing a statewide rental assistance program to ensure stable and affordable housing.
- Increasing public assistance benefits to meet families’ basic needs and indexing them to inflation.
- Reintroducing state food assistance programs to fill gaps in federal SNAP coverage for children.
Background: New York’s Commitment to New York’s Children
In 2021/2022, the New York State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, the Child Poverty Reduction Act, committing the State to reduce child poverty by 50% over 10 years, with attention to racial equity. This bipartisan, nation-leading law created the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, composed of state leaders, advocates, and community members, to develop evidence-based recommendations and set yearly benchmarks.
The Council also addresses the unequal impact of poverty on racial and ethnic communities, ensuring that solutions promote equity while advancing New York’s historic commitment to reducing child poverty
