The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, and UJA-Federation of New York Launch Anti-Poverty Research Study

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May 15, 2014, 05:00 ET

NEW YORK, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, and UJA-Federation of New York, three major NY faith-based organizations, have collectively launched a new research study that will identify public policies that could have a significant impact in reducing poverty in New York City. This collaboration is born out of the shared values and traditions for caring for people in need and the extensive reach of their combined networks in helping all New Yorkers. The study was initiated in March 2014 and preliminary results are due this summer.

The Urban Institute has been retained to conduct the research, based on their work with the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute in Wisconsin. This is the first time UI will utilize this model in analyzing New York City specific data. The Urban Institute will study a set of public policies that focus on core human necessities: work, housing, food and financial assistance, for example, policies on transitional jobs; senior and disability tax credits; increased child care subsidies and supplements for low-wage workers. After receiving the results, the three organizations will reconvene to determine potential next steps.

While New York City and State have enacted numerous anti-poverty measures, poverty remains pervasive and seemingly intractable throughout New York, with 1.7 million people or 21% living below the federal poverty line. This research will use a slightly modified version of the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) to assess NYC poverty levels. The SPM is a more accurate accounting of poverty than the official poverty measure because it accounts for the effects of important government benefits and taxes, work expenses (including childcare), and medical expenses on households' standards of living (which the official measure does not.)

"Faith-led organizations have a rich history of addressing the needs of their communities and that's why it is paramount that we come together to address the needs of NYC's poorest residents. New York City can become a place where the social and economic well-being of all of its residents is a priority, but this can only be achieved if policies and programs that strengthen our most vulnerable communities are implemented," said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies.

"In providing help and creating hope for thousands, Catholic Charities encounters obstacles in needless red tape and poorly designed public policies and programs. These impede individuals and families from meeting their basic human needs. This research seeks to understand how well designed policies and properly implemented programs can significantly reduce waste not only in public expenditures but even more importantly in unrealized human potential. Our mission of building a more just and compassionate society founded on our core belief that every person is made in the image of God compels us to do this," said Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York.

"Our faith based groups share a deep, collective, abiding concern about poverty alleviation. Overall statistics of those who live in poverty are alarming, and despite billions of dollars invested by government and philanthropy in this area annually, it is still an immense challenge to effectively help those who live in poverty. We are hopeful that this research will contribute to critical, life-saving, public policy discussions," said John Ruskay, CEO and Executive Vice President, UJA-Federation of New York.

About FPWA
For more than 90 years, the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, (FPWA) has been a prominent force in New York City's social service system, meeting the needs of New York's most vulnerable and supporting the agencies that deliver human services. With a membership network of human service and faith-based organizations that operate more 1,200 programs throughout the New York City metro area. Together, we serve over 1.5 million low-income New Yorkers of all ages, ethnicities and denominations each year. For more information, please visit www.fpwa.org, Twitter and Facebook.

About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York
Catholic Charities, a federation of approximately 90 agencies and programs located throughout the 10 counties of the Archdiocese of New York, helps solve the problems of New Yorkers in need – non-Catholics and Catholics alike– with services that protect and nurture children, resolve family crises, assist the hungry and homeless, support the physically and emotionally challenged, and integrate immigrants and refugees. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at catholiccharitiesny.org.

About UJA-Federation of New York
For more than 95 years, UJA-Federation has inspired New Yorkers to act on their values and invest in our community for the biggest impact. Through UJA-Federation, more than 55,000 donors address issues that matter most to them, pooling their resources to care for New Yorkers of all backgrounds and Jews everywhere, to connect people to their Jewish communities, and to respond to crises close to home and around the globe. Working with nearly 100 network beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, UJA-Federation is the world's largest local philanthropy; our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 70 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit our website at http://www.ujafedny.org.

SOURCE UJA-Federation of New York