Research and Evidence

Following the Data to Find Solutions

We work with partners in government, academia, and advocacy to fund research and advance evidence-based solutions that address the drivers of poverty.

Poverty Tracker

Launched in 2012 in partnership with the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy, the Poverty Tracker is Robin Hood’s signature, groundbreaking study of poverty in New York City. Unlike other surveys, it explores the impact of poverty and material hardship over time, surveying a representative sample of New Yorkers every four months. While our annual Poverty Tracker reports provide critical information on the dynamics of poverty and other forms of disadvantage, our special spotlight reports highlight more timely and nuanced aspects of poverty.

New Poverty Tracker Reports

Child Care in New York City: Experiences of child care hardship and the anti-poverty potential of universal 2-K and 3-K

New data from two companion Poverty Tracker reports make a powerful case that expanding 2-K and 3-K could be one of the most effective anti-poverty tools available to New York City.

Policy Reports

We fund innovative research studies to better understand the impact that poverty has on individuals and families and the programmatic and policy interventions that can most effectively reduce poverty and improve outcomes for New Yorkers.

December 2025

Partnership Against Poverty: An Agenda for Collaboration with the Mamdani Administration

For more than three decades, Robin Hood has collaborated closely with mayoral administrations to combat poverty and expand opportunities across NYC. Read our critical priorities and proposals for the incoming mayoral administration.