Forestdale Hosts Event in Support of the Working Families Tax Credit
THE LEGISLATURE
STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 4ᵗʰ, 2024 Contact: Alexa Arecchi arecchia@nyassembly.gov 718-263-5595
***Press Release ***
Assembly member Hevesi, New York Immigration Coalition, United Neighborhood Houses, Cabrini Immigrant Services, and Working Families Tax Credit Coalition host event in support of Working Families Tax Credit
The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) is estimated to result in a 13.4% reduction in children under the age of 18 living in poverty with a 19.6% reduction for those under 18 living in deep poverty.
Forest Hills, New York- Hosted by Forestdale, a human services agency dedicated to supporting families and helping children thrive, Assembly member Andrew Hevesi stood alongside members of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), Cabrini Immigrant Services, the Working Families Tax Credit Coalition, staff form Senator Gounardes’ office, and families to rally for the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC). The event was a celebration for families served by Forestdale complete with toys for children, a clown, balloon animals, and lunch! Assemblyman Hevesi and Senator Gounardes, the lead sponsors of the WFTC pledged to prioritize the tax credit in this year’s budget.
The Working Families Tax Credit proposal would provide all but the wealthiest New York families with additional income while removing inequities in current tax credits. The WFTC:
Gives $500 per child to every family, except for those earning the highest incomes
Offers low- and middle-income families an average income boost of almost $1,300
Targets relief to lowest income earning families who could get up to $1,600 per child in boosted income
Offers quarterly payments: provides families with 4 checks so they can better plan their finances
“Families come to Forestdale after a crisis to receive support on a path to stability and future growth. One of the main challenges facing the families we serve is poverty, itself,” said Bill Weisberg, Forestdale’s Executive Director. “The Working Families Tax Credit puts money in the pockets of hard working people who are not paid enough to put nutritious food on the table for their children. That’s why Forestdale supports the WFTC.”- Bill Weisberg, Executive Director, Forestdale, Inc.
“New Yorkers across the State, regardless of immigration status, are struggling to make ends meet. The costs of housing, utilities, food and everyday necessities are leaving our communities stretched too thin, with one in five New York children living in poverty. The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) would give New York families much needed relief, including the undocumented immigrants who are paying more in state and local taxes than the top one percent. We must pass the WFTC this legislation session, to create a New York State where every family can succeed,” said Valeria Paz Reyes, NYC Manager of Organizing and Strategy, New York Immigration Coalition.
"Poverty is a policy choice and it is time we make different decisions. The Working Families Tax Credit, made available to every New Yorker, regardless of citizenship status is one of the smartest policy decisions we can make. I look forward to working with the NYIC, Senator Gounardes, and all our partners to make the WFTC a reality this year. Thank you to Forestdale for hosting today’s event and to all the families that came out to show their support" said Assembly member Andrew Hevesi.
"New York's middle class and working families are drowning in a cost-of-living tidal wave, but my Working Families Tax Credit can help them stay afloat," said State Senator Andrew Gounardes. "This is about ensuring New Yorkers have the support they need to make ends meet, whether that's buying essentials like groceries and clothes, or simply paying rent to keep the roof over their head. New Yorkers are begging us to take bold action to tackle the affordability crisis--my Working Families Tax Credit is a crucial step toward doing just that."
“At Cabrini Immigrant Services of NYC, we witness daily the overwhelming challenges faced by hardworking New Yorkers who struggle to make ends meet. That is why we are proud to support the Working Families Tax Credit, which would put funds directly into the hands of the families who need it most, regardless of immigration status. We call on our New York State representatives to prioritize the passage of the WFTC this legislative session, taking a meaningful step towards reducing child poverty and creating a more inclusive and equitable tax system in New York State,” said Ella Nimo, Director of Community Programs and Development.
"New York has the tools and means to cut child poverty in half. To achieve this goal, we must move forward by implementing an enhanced child tax credit. We recently released a report on barriers to accessing a variety of services; families told us, again and again, that they needed assistance with basic needs–essential items like diapers. A tax credit would make a real and tangible difference for families,” said Jenn O'Connor, Director of Partnerships and Early Childhood Policy for EdTrust-New York.
“The United Community Center of Westchester, Inc. (UCCW) is proud to support the Working Families Tax Credit, which ensures that funds go directly to the families who need them most, regardless of immigration status. Each month, we distribute food to hundreds of families, and we’ve seen a sharp increase in demand due to the rising cost of living in Westchester County. Many of these families are longtime residents and hardworking taxpayers in our community who have never sought assistance before. It is time to recognize and support them as an integral part of our society," said Jackeline Agudelo, Executive Director.
“Allowing children to live in poverty is a policy choice and in New York, child poverty is persistently higher than in other states. Childhood is fleeting; the policy and budget choices our leaders make in 2025 will affect children for their lifetimes. With the Child Poverty Reduction Act, New York’s leaders made a statutory commitment to cutting child poverty in half in the next decade, with attention to racial inequity. Robust tax relief, like the Working Families Tax Credit, is among the most effective and equitable ways for New York State to make meaningful progress toward ending child poverty statewide. We urge our elected leaders to make policy choices in the coming state budget that quickly and sharply reduce the number of children experiencing poverty and help us achieve a vision for New York State in which families can not only afford to stay in New York but choose to stay and flourish here,” said Kate Breslin, President and CEO, Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy.
“Different programs and services can help groups of families and children living in poverty to beat the odds against them. But effective policies like the Working Families Tax Credit is the only way to change those odds for all. The single best evidence-based way to eliminate child poverty is to supplement family income, rather than prescribing specific solutions to specific issues. Additional cash is the most efficient way to ensure that people can meet their own needs, whether it’s putting more and better food on the table, getting that used car or bus pass to get to their job, help affording the new apartment closer to their child’s school, or whatever they may need,” said Larry Marx, CEO of The Children’s Agenda.
“By putting money back into the pockets of people who need it most, the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) offers much-needed financial empowerment for hardworking families,” said Susan Stamler, Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses (UNH). “We know that too many families face economic hardships daily, and New York’s children bearing the brunt of much of that hardship.
Passing the WFTC could help ease some of the burden, with families using the extra money to keep food on the table and clothes on their children’s backs. UNH is committed to helping ease the financial burdens New Yorkers face, and we will continue to work with our partners–including WFTC champions Assembly member Hevesi and Senator Gounardes–on this important issue.”
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