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 Columbia University, 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 three months. While our annual Poverty Tracker reports provide critical information on the dynamics of poverty and other forms of disadvantage, our special spotlight reports shed light on more timely and nuanced aspects of poverty.

New Poverty Tracker Report

Energy Insecurity in NYC

New data finds that rising utility costs and increasing temperatures contribute to a common phenomenon among New Yorkers in poverty: energy insecurity. In a typical year, more than 700,000 New Yorkers live in a household where utilities have been shut off at least once. Explore the data and the solutions Robin Hood supports to alleviate energy insecurity.

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.

July 2021

From Crisis to Opportunity: A Policy Agenda for an Equitable NYC

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and in partnership with the Century Foundation and Next100, Robin Hood released a policy agenda to act as a blueprint for our City’s new leadership to elevate New Yorkers out of poverty while tackling racial and economic inequities.