Policy Advocacy

Our policy advocacy efforts advance evidence-based solutions to fight poverty and expand economic mobility for low-income New Yorkers.

Supporting New York’s decoupling bill

Work schedules fluctuate but child care access shouldn’t; all children deserve stable, consistent care. It’s time to give our essential workers more options by including the child care decoupling bill in the FY25 state budget. New York wins when working families thrive.

Empire State Campaign for Child Care Legislator memo
Two caregivers engaging with a toddler on a playmat with sensory toys.

Op-Ed: Hochul Must Sign this Important Child Care Bill

The Issues

In the journey toward economic mobility, certain aspects of life play a pivotal role. These elements fall into key issue areas, addressed by targeted solutions that pair Robin Hood’s grantmaking and policy advocacy to break the cycle of poverty:

Child Care

Education

Health

Housing

Hunger

Jobs

Research & Evidence

To support our grantmaking, we fund and create research efforts aimed at dismantling systemic barriers and create lasting change. Learn more about our landmark Poverty Tracker study and other Robin Hood-funded reports here.

Our Policy Advocacy at Work: Case Studies

Reducing child poverty

The child tax credit is one of the most effective poverty-fighting tools, especially when targeted to the lowest income, youngest children. That's why we advocate for expanding the state's child tax credit to meet New York's goal of cutting child poverty in half by 2032.

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A woman in a graduation cap holds up a diploma from Queensborough Community College
Supporting college success programs

Attaining a four-year bachelor's degree is one of the most effective ways for low-income New Yorkers to permanently escape poverty. That's why we advocate for increasing public funding to expand the CUNY ACE program.

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Lessening medical debt

Reforming New York’s medical debt and hospital financial assistance laws is vital to protect patients from unaffordable and aggressive collection practices that threaten economic security. That's why we partner with our grantee Community Service Society to help end predatory medical collection.

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Programs & Initiatives

Data, evidence, and the experiences of our grantees inform Robin Hood’s policy agenda. Our policy change campaigns and initiatives serve to amplify the impact of our core grant-making portfolio, addressing poverty at all stages of life.