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 visual data explores how New Yorkers enter, exit, and re-enter poverty over multiple years, revealing that exits from poverty are more often temporary than long-lasting. As a qualitative companion to this Data Snapshot, read real-life anecdotes from New Yorkers navigating the economic peaks and valleys of poverty.
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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.
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.