Social Policy

Unemployment Insurance Taxes Paid for Undocumented Workers in NYS

May 14, 2020 In the midst of a pandemic, there has been a growing call for undocumented immigrants, who make up five percent of the New York State labor force, to be covered by some form of unemployment insurance. What is often overlooked in discussions of unemployment insurance is the extent to which undocumented immigrants are already part of paying into the existing system, even when they are excluded from collecting benefits. Undocumented immigrants face the same challenges as other workers. It does not serve [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:36-05:00May 13th, 2020|Blog, Healthcare, Labor Market & Workforce, Migration, Reports, Briefs and Presentations|
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New York’s Essential Workers Overlooked, Underpaid, and Indispensable

The coronavirus crisis has put a new focus on “essential workers,”  people who are bringing deliveries to our homes, working in supermarkets and convenience stores, keeping the public transportation system functioning, providing social services and childcare, and working in the healthcare industry. These essential workers have always played a critical role in keeping our communities running. At a time when many streets are eerily empty, however, we can see all the more clearly who is still out there making sure people get food on the [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:37-05:00April 8th, 2020|Labor Market & Workforce, Must Read, Reports, Briefs and Presentations, Social Policy|
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FPI’s New Report Highlights the Unequal State of New York

For Immediate Release: December 6, 2019 Media Contact: communications@fiscalpolicy.org, 518-786-3156 The Unequal State of New York The Majority of Income is Captured by the Fewest New Yorkers Read the report: The Unequal State of New York click here. (Albany, NY) The Fiscal Policy Institute reports that New York State has the most unequal income distribution in the nation, with the fewest people capturing the greatest share. Not since the “Gilded Age” of the 1920s has our state seen such a vast divide between the highest- and [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:38-05:00December 6th, 2019|Housing, Labor Market & Workforce, Press Releases, Reports, Briefs and Presentations, Social Policy|
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With “rent burdens” on the rise, advocates urge changes to state laws

May 1, 2019. This article looks at the problem of rent burdens in the Rochester area in advance of the NYS Assembly hearing on May 10. The article highlighted the disparities "2 out of 5 renters -- and 60% of minorities -- in the Rochester area are rent-burdened. Others upstate cities face similar numbers, but Rochester’s are the highest." A recent study by the nonpartisan Fiscal Policy Institute says nearly half of New York renters are “rent-burdened. Ron Deutsch, the group’s executive director, said housing – not [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:40-05:00May 1st, 2019|FPI in the News, Housing|
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Report: Nearly Half of New York Renting Families Are Rent-Burdened

April 29, 2019. Families should pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent according to housing advocates. Many public agencies set their support levels to meet this standard. Unfortunately, we find that across New York State, and in some of its major cities, significant shares of families are paying more than 30 percent of their income in rent. This is especially true among families of color. Severe rent burdens can badly reduce families’ ability to pay for other important expenses, such as food or [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:40-05:00April 29th, 2019|Housing, Reports, Briefs and Presentations, Social Policy|
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Press Release: Families Lack Affordable Housing Statewide, Rent burdens leave families and communities without a firm foundation

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2019 Media Contact: communications@fiscalpolicy.org, 518-786-3156 (Albany, NY) Today the Fiscal Policy Institute released a new report “Nearly Half of New York Renters Are Rent Burdened” (add link) showing a majority of renting families statewide are “rent-burdened” meaning that they pay over the recommended standard of 30% of their income in rent – and for families of color that percentage climbs even higher. FPI cautions that the effects of rent burdens hurt families, local communities, and the state. With the state [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:40-05:00April 29th, 2019|Housing, Press Releases, Social Policy|
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The rent is too high! Rochester housing advocates rally for rent reforms

April 11, 2019. This article covered a demonstration highlighting local support for rent regulation by the Rochester Housing Coalition, members of the City-Wide Tenant Union, the Rochester Homeless Union, VOCAL-NY, House of Mercy, and St. Joseph's House of Hospitality participated in the event, which began at the Liberty Pole and ended at the former Hotel Cadillac, where numerous low-income tenants were evicted last year so building owners DHD Ventures could renovate the property. Legislation has been introduced in Albany that strengthen tenant protections  allow cities across the [...]

2024-12-18T12:24:40-05:00April 12th, 2019|FPI in the News, Housing|
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Automatic Voter Registration: Good for Democracy and Sound Fiscal Sense

February 11, 2019. New York is in many ways thought of as a progressive state, but in terms of the basic democratic function of voting we are far behind most of the country. In voter registration, for instance, New York ranks 46th out of 50 states in share of citizens over 18 years old who are registered to vote. Automatic Voter Registration is a solution being currently considered that would leave far fewer people behind. As with any new proposal, it is worth examining the [...]

2024-12-18T12:25:38-05:00February 11th, 2019|Blog, Reports, Briefs and Presentations, Social Policy|
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Op-Ed: Protect Veterans’ Access to SNAP

November 9, 2018 Veterans Day reminds us of our duty to support Americans who have served our nation in uniform. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices they’ve made and to re-examine the ways we can help them when they return home and re-enter civilian life. As we support them, we can certainly all agree that no veteran should go hungry. Unfortunately, for too many veterans in New York and across the country, hunger remains a serious concern. That’s one of the reasons the [...]

2024-12-18T12:25:41-05:00November 13th, 2018|FPI in the News, Social Policy|
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Webinar: What New York’s Community Organizations Need To Know About Public Charge

Join FPI For A Webinar On: What New York's Community Organizations Need To Know About Public Charge Last month, the Department of Homeland Security publicized a proposed Public Charge rule that would punish immigrants going through official immigration processes and their families for applying for or receiving government benefits for which they are legally eligible. This would take away vital government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance from low-income immigrant families, including U.S. citizen children. Denying access to basic needs programs will [...]

2024-12-18T12:25:41-05:00November 9th, 2018|Blog, Social Policy|
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Press Release: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Helps Nearly 64,000 of New York’s Low-Income Veterans Put Food on Their Tables

November 9, 2018 MEDIA CONTACT Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of FPI 518.469.6769 | deutsch@fiscalpolicy.org Sherry Tomasky, Director of Public Affairs of Hunger Solutions New York 518.414.6769 | sherry.tomasky@hungersolutionsny.org PRESS RELEASE New York State Food Security Advocates Urge Congress to Protect Food Assistance for Veterans The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Helps Nearly 64,000 of New York’s Low-Income Veterans Put Food on Their Tables As the nation prepares to observe Veterans Day, Hunger Solutions New York and the Fiscal Policy Institute are calling on Congress to [...]

2024-12-18T12:25:42-05:00November 9th, 2018|Press Releases, Social Policy|
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FPI Supports Calls to Protect SNAP

June 14, 2018. FPI’s Policy Analyst, Shamier Settle and Chief Economist, Jonas Shaende joined the Poor People’s Campaign and Rise & Resist at their rally against potential cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The House Agriculture Committee farm bill (H.R. 2) outlines cuts and discontinuation of SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) for a substantial number of low-income Americans. This proposal contains $20 billion in cuts to the SNAP program and provisions for expanded work requirements. There is little empirical evidence that such requirements [...]

2024-12-18T12:26:10-05:00June 15th, 2018|Blog, Social Policy|
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FPI Holds Webinar with Hunger Solutions New York About SNAP and the 2018 Farm Bill

May 8, 2018. The Fiscal Policy Institute and Hunger Solutions New York held a webinar regarding the 2018 Farm Bill and changes to SNAP on April 30, 2018. SNAP, otherwise known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, helps close the gap of food insecurity for people across New York and the rest of the country. The slides for the webinar are available here.

2024-12-18T12:26:12-05:00May 8th, 2018|Social Policy|
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Interactive Maps: SNAP Participation Rates and SNAP Retailers

May 7, 2018. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP for short, is the country's largest and most effective nutrition program. In New York State, over 2.8 million people utilize SNAP every year, including 1.1 million children. More than $4.9 billion in SNAP benefits were spent at over 18,000 New York retailers in 2016. SNAP is a part of the Farm Bill, a piece of legislation which authorizes most federal policies governing food and agriculture programs. Approximately 80 percent of the Farm Bill is SNAP funding [...]

2024-12-18T12:26:13-05:00May 7th, 2018|Blog, Social Policy|
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Rod Watson: Report Underscores Need to Mandate Affordable Housing

The analysis from the Fiscal Policy Institute, based on Census Bureau data, looks at affordability in the state’s six largest cities. It shows that 38 percent of Buffalo’s renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, with a quarter of the city’s renters spending more than 40 percent. The federal government sets 30 percent as the upper limit for housing that’s deemed "affordable," meaning more than a third of Buffalo’s residents can’t really afford the rental housing they are living in. That [...]

2024-12-18T12:26:13-05:00April 19th, 2018|FPI in the News, Housing, Social Policy|
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