Center on Poverty and Social Policy
@povertycenter.bsky.social
Producing actionable research at the intersection of poverty and social policy at Columbia University.
Our new research shows a larger Child Tax Credit won’t reduce inequality on its own—design decisions determine who benefits. And when future opportunities to design a bigger credit do arise, understanding how those choices shape equity will be essential.
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
Why the Design of a Larger Child Tax Credit Matters for Inequality Among Children | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
December 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Our new research shows a larger Child Tax Credit won’t reduce inequality on its own—design decisions determine who benefits. And when future opportunities to design a bigger credit do arise, understanding how those choices shape equity will be essential.
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
Reposted by Center on Poverty and Social Policy
Two new Poverty Tracker reports from Robin Hood reveal how deeply COVID shaped childhood in NYC:
🔹 1 in 3 kids under 5 had a parent lose work
🔹 1 in 4 working moms left the workforce
The lesson is undeniable: when parents lose stability, kids lose opportunity.
Explore more: robinhood.org/research
🔹 1 in 3 kids under 5 had a parent lose work
🔹 1 in 4 working moms left the workforce
The lesson is undeniable: when parents lose stability, kids lose opportunity.
Explore more: robinhood.org/research
December 9, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Two new Poverty Tracker reports from Robin Hood reveal how deeply COVID shaped childhood in NYC:
🔹 1 in 3 kids under 5 had a parent lose work
🔹 1 in 4 working moms left the workforce
The lesson is undeniable: when parents lose stability, kids lose opportunity.
Explore more: robinhood.org/research
🔹 1 in 3 kids under 5 had a parent lose work
🔹 1 in 4 working moms left the workforce
The lesson is undeniable: when parents lose stability, kids lose opportunity.
Explore more: robinhood.org/research
These findings are from our latest Poverty Tracker report on how New Yorkers are struggling with weekly food budget shortfalls🔥Glad folks are paying attention ahead of the holiday season—read the report and support community: robinhood.org/reports/pove...
November 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
These findings are from our latest Poverty Tracker report on how New Yorkers are struggling with weekly food budget shortfalls🔥Glad folks are paying attention ahead of the holiday season—read the report and support community: robinhood.org/reports/pove...
Reposted by Center on Poverty and Social Policy
New Poverty Tracker data shows more than 40% of NYC families with children can’t afford their weekly food costs, with an average shortfall of $205/week. Robin Hood is increasing Q4 emergency food grantmaking by 50%, investing $5.6M through 10 partners. Read more. robinhood.org/reports/pove...
Poverty Tracker Spotlight Report: Food Budget Shortfalls in NYC
Data from this issue of the Poverty Tracker explores how grocery budget shortfalls are affecting New Yorkers across all income levels.
robinhood.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
New Poverty Tracker data shows more than 40% of NYC families with children can’t afford their weekly food costs, with an average shortfall of $205/week. Robin Hood is increasing Q4 emergency food grantmaking by 50%, investing $5.6M through 10 partners. Read more. robinhood.org/reports/pove...
The govt has discontinued USDA food security data—and with the shutdown delaying the 2024 report, we’re losing vital insight into food insecurity in America.
Our Research Director Sophie Collyer introduces a new model to predict food insecurity rates. povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
Our Research Director Sophie Collyer introduces a new model to predict food insecurity rates. povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
Predicting National Rates of Food Insecurity in the Absence of Official Data Collection | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
October 23, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The govt has discontinued USDA food security data—and with the shutdown delaying the 2024 report, we’re losing vital insight into food insecurity in America.
Our Research Director Sophie Collyer introduces a new model to predict food insecurity rates. povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
Our Research Director Sophie Collyer introduces a new model to predict food insecurity rates. povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
Join Our Team: The Center on Poverty and Social Policy is hiring a Research Analyst to support actionable research on poverty and social policy in the United States. Apply today!
povertycenter.columbia.edu/join-team
povertycenter.columbia.edu/join-team
Join the Team! | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
October 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Join Our Team: The Center on Poverty and Social Policy is hiring a Research Analyst to support actionable research on poverty and social policy in the United States. Apply today!
povertycenter.columbia.edu/join-team
povertycenter.columbia.edu/join-team
📊 New research:
Local governments have the power to lift thousands of children out of poverty.
Our new report with @itep.org, supported by Share Our Strength, shows how local Child Tax Credits could cut child poverty by 25–50% in cities across the US.
Read the full findings:
Local governments have the power to lift thousands of children out of poverty.
Our new report with @itep.org, supported by Share Our Strength, shows how local Child Tax Credits could cut child poverty by 25–50% in cities across the US.
Read the full findings:
The Potential of Local Child Tax Credits to Reduce Child Poverty | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
October 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
📊 New research:
Local governments have the power to lift thousands of children out of poverty.
Our new report with @itep.org, supported by Share Our Strength, shows how local Child Tax Credits could cut child poverty by 25–50% in cities across the US.
Read the full findings:
Local governments have the power to lift thousands of children out of poverty.
Our new report with @itep.org, supported by Share Our Strength, shows how local Child Tax Credits could cut child poverty by 25–50% in cities across the US.
Read the full findings:
New @sbs.nationalacademies.org report shows federal tax credits lifted 2M+ children out of poverty in 2021. Director Chris Wimer served with fellow experts on the study committee. Read the report: nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/291...
Pathways to Reduce Child Poverty: Impacts of Federal Tax Credits
Pathways to Reduce Child Poverty: Impacts of Federal Tax Credits
nap.nationalacademies.org
September 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
New @sbs.nationalacademies.org report shows federal tax credits lifted 2M+ children out of poverty in 2021. Director Chris Wimer served with fellow experts on the study committee. Read the report: nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/291...
Reposted by Center on Poverty and Social Policy
📢 New report: Pathways to Reduce Child #Poverty: Impacts of Federal Tax Credits. The report explores the expanded #Child Tax Credit and #EITC in 2021 which lifted 2M+ kids out of poverty. 📘 Explore the report: buff.ly/r6GQLLU
September 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
📢 New report: Pathways to Reduce Child #Poverty: Impacts of Federal Tax Credits. The report explores the expanded #Child Tax Credit and #EITC in 2021 which lifted 2M+ kids out of poverty. 📘 Explore the report: buff.ly/r6GQLLU
Reposted by Center on Poverty and Social Policy
How is the rising cost of living impacting New Yorkers? Our latest Poverty Tracker data shows:
🔹 76% cut back on necessities & savings
🔹 56% reduced food purchases
🔹 49% reduced utilities or transportation
NYC’s affordability crisis extends well above the poverty line.
robinhood.org/reports/pove...
🔹 76% cut back on necessities & savings
🔹 56% reduced food purchases
🔹 49% reduced utilities or transportation
NYC’s affordability crisis extends well above the poverty line.
robinhood.org/reports/pove...
Data Snapshot: How is the rising cost of living impacting New Yorkers? - Robin Hood
robinhood.org
September 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
How is the rising cost of living impacting New Yorkers? Our latest Poverty Tracker data shows:
🔹 76% cut back on necessities & savings
🔹 56% reduced food purchases
🔹 49% reduced utilities or transportation
NYC’s affordability crisis extends well above the poverty line.
robinhood.org/reports/pove...
🔹 76% cut back on necessities & savings
🔹 56% reduced food purchases
🔹 49% reduced utilities or transportation
NYC’s affordability crisis extends well above the poverty line.
robinhood.org/reports/pove...
Wrap up from last week: Census poverty data is out & our team pulled together fresh analyses:
Asking what child poverty could have looked like in 2024 if we had an expanded Child Tax Credit similar to 2021 in place? What if we had the OBBBA CTC?
povertycenter.columbia.edu/what-could-2...
Asking what child poverty could have looked like in 2024 if we had an expanded Child Tax Credit similar to 2021 in place? What if we had the OBBBA CTC?
povertycenter.columbia.edu/what-could-2...
What Could 2024 Child Poverty Rates Have Looked Like Had an Expanded Child Tax Credit Still Been in Place? | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
September 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Wrap up from last week: Census poverty data is out & our team pulled together fresh analyses:
Asking what child poverty could have looked like in 2024 if we had an expanded Child Tax Credit similar to 2021 in place? What if we had the OBBBA CTC?
povertycenter.columbia.edu/what-could-2...
Asking what child poverty could have looked like in 2024 if we had an expanded Child Tax Credit similar to 2021 in place? What if we had the OBBBA CTC?
povertycenter.columbia.edu/what-could-2...
📢 Just out: Our team mapped how tax credits & transfers reduce poverty in each state in recent years. 📊 This provides an important baseline for understanding the critical role of programs like SNAP amidst growing state budget pressures post-OBBBA.
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
The Role of Tax Credits and Transfers in Reducing State-Level Poverty: A 50-State Analysis | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
September 11, 2025 at 9:34 PM
📢 Just out: Our team mapped how tax credits & transfers reduce poverty in each state in recent years. 📊 This provides an important baseline for understanding the critical role of programs like SNAP amidst growing state budget pressures post-OBBBA.
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/...
🔎📊Our new series tracks poverty from 1967–2024 across four measures. Poverty dropped 30–50% with constant living standards, but rose 20% on a relative scale. One constant: safety net policies now cut poverty nearly in half. Full brief: povertycenter.columbia.edu/series/2024-...
Series: 2024 Poverty Rates in Historical Perspective Series | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
povertycenter.columbia.edu
September 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
🔎📊Our new series tracks poverty from 1967–2024 across four measures. Poverty dropped 30–50% with constant living standards, but rose 20% on a relative scale. One constant: safety net policies now cut poverty nearly in half. Full brief: povertycenter.columbia.edu/series/2024-...
📊Census released its 2024 poverty report📊Poverty is similar to 2023: 43.7mil people (~13%), incl 9.7mil children (>13%), lived in Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) poverty. The SPM captures policy effects & we have new research using this data. Up 1st:🔎how 2024 compares to historical poverty trends
September 9, 2025 at 5:23 PM
📊Census released its 2024 poverty report📊Poverty is similar to 2023: 43.7mil people (~13%), incl 9.7mil children (>13%), lived in Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) poverty. The SPM captures policy effects & we have new research using this data. Up 1st:🔎how 2024 compares to historical poverty trends
Tomorrow is an important data day 📆 Census Bureau’s annual income & poverty data release 📊 We'll have same-day analysis on:
🔎how 2024 compares to historical poverty trends
🔎safety net impacts on state poverty
🔎what child poverty COULD have been w/different policy (ex: expanded Child Tax Credit)
🔎how 2024 compares to historical poverty trends
🔎safety net impacts on state poverty
🔎what child poverty COULD have been w/different policy (ex: expanded Child Tax Credit)
September 8, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Tomorrow is an important data day 📆 Census Bureau’s annual income & poverty data release 📊 We'll have same-day analysis on:
🔎how 2024 compares to historical poverty trends
🔎safety net impacts on state poverty
🔎what child poverty COULD have been w/different policy (ex: expanded Child Tax Credit)
🔎how 2024 compares to historical poverty trends
🔎safety net impacts on state poverty
🔎what child poverty COULD have been w/different policy (ex: expanded Child Tax Credit)
Reposted by Center on Poverty and Social Policy
"H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, manages to be the worst of both worlds," @meganacurran.bsky.social, Sophie Collyer and Jane Waldfogel write. wapo.st/448HLi5
Opinion | The GOP wants to expand the child tax credit — but not for poor kids
Even a proposal meant to benefit children would cut out low-income households.
wapo.st
June 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
"H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, manages to be the worst of both worlds," @meganacurran.bsky.social, Sophie Collyer and Jane Waldfogel write. wapo.st/448HLi5
📰 WaPo op-ed from our team on how the big tax bill's Child Tax Credit benefits those better off & leaves 1 in 3 children behind. "This would be a bad investment—spending money where it produces the smallest return. We can—and should—make different decisions."
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | The GOP wants to expand the child tax credit — but not for poor kids
Even a proposal meant to benefit children would cut out low-income households.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
📰 WaPo op-ed from our team on how the big tax bill's Child Tax Credit benefits those better off & leaves 1 in 3 children behind. "This would be a bad investment—spending money where it produces the smallest return. We can—and should—make different decisions."
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
📢 Happening in 1 hr:
Join us for the book launch of Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future by Jane Waldfogel.
📍 Online (Zoom) at 2 pm.
🔗 Register here: columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join us for the book launch of Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future by Jane Waldfogel.
📍 Online (Zoom) at 2 pm.
🔗 Register here: columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: BOOK LAUNCH: Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Join us for the launch of Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future by Jane Waldfogel, Compton Foundation Centennial Professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work. In this t...
columbiauniversity.zoom.us
June 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
📢 Happening in 1 hr:
Join us for the book launch of Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future by Jane Waldfogel.
📍 Online (Zoom) at 2 pm.
🔗 Register here: columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Join us for the book launch of Child Benefits: A Smart Investment for America's Future by Jane Waldfogel.
📍 Online (Zoom) at 2 pm.
🔗 Register here: columbiauniversity.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Reposted by Center on Poverty and Social Policy
📖 BOOK LAUNCH 📖 Join the @povertycenter.bsky.social on June 5 at 2 pm ET for the launch of IGP Affiliated Faculty Member Jane Waldfogel’s new book, ‘Child Benefits–A Smart Investment for America's Future.’
Register for the webinar here: povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/book-...
Register for the webinar here: povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/book-...
June 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
📖 BOOK LAUNCH 📖 Join the @povertycenter.bsky.social on June 5 at 2 pm ET for the launch of IGP Affiliated Faculty Member Jane Waldfogel’s new book, ‘Child Benefits–A Smart Investment for America's Future.’
Register for the webinar here: povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/book-...
Register for the webinar here: povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/book-...
Join today at 1pm for a vital webinar on how childhood involvement in the child welfare system affects young adult health + mental health. Hear from researchers @uwmadison.bsky.social @columbiauniversity.bsky.social + youth advocates with lived experience
povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/2025/...
povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/2025/...
WEBINAR: Spotlight on Child Welfare System Involvement During Childhood and Young Adult Health and Mental Health | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
Researchers from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study team will share new findings on the prevalence of child welfare system involvement during childhood and the health and mental health o...
povertycenter.columbia.edu
May 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Join today at 1pm for a vital webinar on how childhood involvement in the child welfare system affects young adult health + mental health. Hear from researchers @uwmadison.bsky.social @columbiauniversity.bsky.social + youth advocates with lived experience
povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/2025/...
povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/2025/...
📢Tune in this Thursday to our young adult webinar series! Up next: How are young adults faring financially today? We’ll explore poverty trends, employment, education, living arrangements, public benefits—and what it means for shaping policy & programs.
🔗 povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/how-a...
🔗 povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/how-a...
WEBINAR: How Are Young Adults Faring Financially? New Insights on Poverty, Employment, Benefits Access, and More | Center on Poverty and Social Policy
Researchers from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study team will share new findings on the economic situation of young adults at age 22 and experts from the Columbia University Center on Po...
povertycenter.columbia.edu
May 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
📢Tune in this Thursday to our young adult webinar series! Up next: How are young adults faring financially today? We’ll explore poverty trends, employment, education, living arrangements, public benefits—and what it means for shaping policy & programs.
🔗 povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/how-a...
🔗 povertycenter.columbia.edu/events/how-a...
The Center on Poverty and Social Policy is now on Bluesky! We produce data-driven research on poverty, its impacts, and potential policy solutions at the national and state levels, as well as right here in NYC. Follow us for the latest research updates on how policy decisions shape real lives.
May 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The Center on Poverty and Social Policy is now on Bluesky! We produce data-driven research on poverty, its impacts, and potential policy solutions at the national and state levels, as well as right here in NYC. Follow us for the latest research updates on how policy decisions shape real lives.