The following statement can be attributed to Dia Bryant, executive director of The Education Trust–New York:
“We commend Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for taking this crucial step toward reducing poverty among New York’s youngest residents. This legislation represents a significant win for New York families of color and families from low-income communities who were already living in poverty before the pandemic and who have been disproportionately impacted financially by the ongoing crisis. Our polling work throughout the pandemic consistently found that New York families have had to make significant sacrifices to pay for basic expenses. More than one in three parents reported earlier this year they had skipped or reduced the size of their families’ meals because of financial hardship. Nearly three in four parents indicated they feel uneasy about their families’ financial situation. We can and must do better, and signing this bill is a critical step to ensuring that New York’s youngest residents and their families have access to the resources they need to put them on the path to a healthy, happy life. We applaud New York for making this commitment and holding itself accountable for better supporting all of the state’s children and families.”