“Once again, the needs of the poor have been specifically excluded from the nation’s moral conscience, with our government refusing to include an increase in cash assistance subsidies in the budget.”
Adi Talwar
A Bronx utility station that has since closed.
The 2025 New York state budget was released as New Yorkers of all incomes struggle to cover necessities like rent, food and child care. Once again, the needs of the poor are particularly excluded from the state’s moral conscience, and our government refuses to include increased cash assistance subsidies in the budget. This is a grant that covers what is commonly referred to as ‘public assistance’ or ‘welfare’.
On behalf of our members from approximately 170 faith and community-based organizations across New York, we at FPWA assert that it is time to uphold our state’s values of equity and justice. We must confront pervasive stereotypes, such as the racist ‘welfare queen’ metaphor of the 1970s and the offensive ‘workfare’ concept of the 1990s, which perpetuates harmful attitudes towards the poor. Must be. It is time to reframe the narrative around cash aid and who is deemed worthy of it.
Cash Assistance provides direct cash assistance to more than 600,000 of New York State’s lowest-income individuals and families, many of whom have disabilities, health problems, or caregiving responsibilities. New Yorkers often turn to cash assistance as a last resort after facing hardships such as separation, domestic violence, homelessness, illness, or death in the family.
Having grown up in a household that relied on cash assistance, I know this reality all too well. Shortly after I was born, my father lost his job as a New York City transit police officer and left his family a few years later. My mother had to raise three children on an unsustainable income as the family’s daycare worker, and we used welfare to help us survive as a family.
Before going on welfare, the sisters participated in Prep for Prep, a program that moves underserved children from public schools to independent schools. They received scholarships to attend a very prestigious private school. After going to support, I received financial aid to attend the same school. For my mother, having all three children graduate from private school was an opportunity for economic advancement.
Unfortunately, the small amount of tuition she was asked to contribute to our education put us at risk of losing public assistance. My mother made the difficult decision to prioritize our education. Her choices had a devastating economic impact on our family for many years, but ultimately yielded lasting economic and social benefits.
My story may seem unique. But that’s the same thing we at FPWA are hearing from many cash assistance recipients today. We hear about the impossible choices faced by recipients who feel “stuck” between pursuing full-time employment or losing benefits. They want to start businesses, pursue higher education, and give back to families like theirs, but they face significant barriers from systems that provide support.
Outdated eligibility criteria and endless administrative hurdles make it difficult to access these benefits, which remain completely disconnected from economic reality. For example, the maximum benefit for her family of three in New York City is only $789 per month. Measuring the actual cost of living will reveal how far this falls short of economic security. Clearly, it is not enough for a family to survive, much less live with dignity.
In March, when the Legislature proposed a partial subsidy increase in the budget, raising the monthly basic living allowance for a family of three from $389 to $614, advocates across the state raised concerns about the issue. I was anticipating the move. Although it would not completely address economic poverty, it would have helped alleviate severe poverty and help New Yorkers in need.
These benefits are not only insufficient to stabilize families, but also fail to meet basic needs. I have heard countless stories of recipients left without food and necessities. For example, one mother was forced to quit her job because she couldn’t pay for childcare for her disabled son, and she often skipped meals and had to go beyond the basics to ensure her meals. I was living without sanitary products. The 27-year-old, a former homeless man who suffers from PTSD and depression, explained that even with careful budgeting, he finds it difficult to make ends meet and often has to skip meals when funds run out. Similarly, a mother of two of her teenage girls, a victim of domestic violence and currently living in an emergency shelter, spoke of the difficulty of providing enough food for her growing children. , illustrates the harsh reality faced by many cash assistance recipients.
Like me, these are stories of resilience. Despite the narrative in political discourse and the media, recipients of cash assistance are not exploiting the efforts of others. They are our friends, neighbors, parents, children, aspiring professionals, and future leaders striving to improve the lives of themselves and their families.
It is morally unjustifiable for so many people to struggle to meet their basic needs in the richest state in one of the richest countries in the world. We have the power to eradicate deep poverty and give all New Yorkers the means to achieve economic security, pursue their aspirations, and live with dignity. It is past time for the national budget to reflect this vision.
That’s why FPWA has launched an ambitious new project to amplify the voices of those marginalized by the media and public perception. Through our Cash Assistance Stories Collection series, we spotlight the experiences of our recipients and highlight the impact of our moral failings in aiding the poor. It’s also an opportunity to hear stories of strength, dreams, and progress.
We hope this initiative will spur change and inspire all residents to commit to our state’s motto: “Excelsior” – always on the upswing.
The Rev. Dominic C. Acheson is FPWA’s Director of Membership and Strategic Partnerships.
