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 Report

The State of Poverty and Disadvantage in NYC Vol. 8

New visual data in this year’s report reveals that more New Yorkers were in poverty than at any other point since the Poverty Tracker began collecting data more than 10 years ago: 2.2 million people overall (one in four), including 1.7 million adults (25%) and 450,000 children (more than one in four). A special spotlight report takes a deep dive into how federal SNAP cuts may affect New Yorkers living in poverty in the coming years.

Read the annual report Read the spotlight report on SNAP cuts

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.

Read the report