FPWA

FPWA, the Goddard Riverside Options Center, Degreesnyc, Faith in New York and Brown Memorial Baptist Church Fellowship Hall will host in-person training events for faith leaders (ordained and lay) and leaders of faith-based organizations.

These in-person training events will focus on the tools and resources needed to address college access and success.

Attendees will walk away with concrete resources, skills for advocacy and best practices for information-sharing.

Find out more and register for one (1) of our two (2) trainings below:

➡️ Register for August 3: bit.ly/4bMY99F

➡️ Register for August 10: bit.ly/4d5vrlu

📊NEW ANALYSIS: With the FY25 New York City budget finalized, FPWA's policy, advocacy, and research team has analyzed its strengths and shortcomings for the human services sector and millions of New Yorkers. Read it now on our website at bit.ly/nycbudgetanalysis

Attention all FPWA Members: Please join us on August 7 at 4 pm for , a special networking and conversation series that will center around our efforts. You can find out more and register today at bit.ly/3xBmhOr

"By changing the Charter, New Yorkers changed the structure that has long upheld the systems that enable racism to persist. Now, our city government is perennially tasked with implementing the people’s mandate, and we, the people, must ensure they do. New York City can be a beacon in the darkness of these times, but only if we live up to and fulfill the promises contained in the Charter revisions."

Read the full New York Amsterdam News article by Jennifer Jones Austin at bit.ly/4cuJpgw

43% of Americans report they are financially insecure. 40% are unable to plan beyond their next paycheck. And 46% don’t have the cash to pay for a $500 emergency expense.

They are teachers and nurses. Master plumbers and IT specialists. High school guidance counselors and public defenders. Their jobs are diverse, but their stories are similar. They’ve done all the right things in pursuit of the American Dream – working hard for their families every day – but rather than achieving the economic stability they’ve strived for, they are barely staying afloat. They have no way to get ahead or plan for a better tomorrow.

Yet, their financial struggles aren’t accounted for in current measures of economic wellbeing in the United States.

A just released survey from the National True Cost of Living Coalition exposes that gap – and underscores the need for a new national measure that accounts for the full costs of modern essentials like regionally specific housing costs, childcare and transportation. With a ready-made measure of true economic security, we can begin closing this gap while showing millions of hardworking Americans they are seen by their government.

Read more insights from the Coalition’s poll at nationaltruecostofliving.org/

65% of middle-class Americans are “struggling financially” and don’t believe their situation will ever improve. That’s according to the findings of a newly released survey from the National True Cost of Living Coalition that exposes a stunning gap in our ability to measure economic wellbeing in 21st-century America.

The poll’s findings make clear that too many Americans’ financial struggles are going unseen by their government – and that must change. We need a national True Cost of Living measure that accounts for the full costs of modern essentials like housing, childcare, transportation, prescriptions and school supplies. As a country, we must look beyond the most basic of needs to understand what it truly costs to live with economic security in America today.

Find out more at nationaltruecostofliving.org/



Community Service Society of New York

“Once again, the needs of the poor have been especially shut out of the state’s moral conscience, with our government refusing to include an increase to cash assistance grants in the budget.”

Read this new City Limits op-ed: bit.ly/3V96VK9 by Rev. Dominique C. Atchison, Director of Membership and Strategic Partnerships, FPWA.

On Thursday, May 23, join us for our next Faith in Education Convening held at First Baptist Church of Crown Heights from 6-7:30 pm. This important conversation will feature panelists from Faith in New York, First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, and New York City Public Schools.

Register today: bit.ly/4bCxoFe

Join us for 2 info sessions on FPWA's Educational Opportunity Scholarship Program. This is an opportunity for advocates from FPWA member organizations to learn more about the program.

May 16 @ 3 pm : http://bit.ly/4dxsYkW
May 20 @ 11 am: http://bit.ly/44lCS4X

This week Governor Kathy Hochul signed off on NY's $237B FY2025 budget. FPWA's new and in-depth analysis dissects what's in, what's out, and why it matters. Dive into our key takeaways & budget scorecard for insights on how the budget does or does not advance economic security for New Yorkers.

Read the full analysis at bit.ly/44yotm4

David Jones of Community Service Society of New York tells us in a new Crain's New York Business op-ed that NYC's mandated true cost of living measurement must take into account all New Yorkers' needs, including those straddling moderate to middle income – to capture what it truly costs to live with dignity and attain economic security in our city.

Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3UyzHni

📢 Just In: Check out FPWA's statement on the FY 2025 New York State Budget: bit.ly/4aRMXZW

Today is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - a day to raise awareness about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people. Learn more: bit.ly/4aPPL9e

ICYMI: 81% voted for NYC to measure the during the November 2022 general election, and now the City must comply.

In a new New York Daily News op-ed, Jennifer Jones Austin highlights the need for our elected officials to establish a measure rooted in economic security - not just what it looks like for people to survive, but to live with dignity today and confidently save and plan for tomorrow - because that’s what New Yorkers demanded with their votes.

Read the full op-ed here: bit.ly/3U1CIw4

📢 NEW: Read the latest op-ed by Jennifer Jones Austin for the New York Daily News, titled "NYC has to now measure the true cost of living"

Read the full op-ed here: bit.ly/3U1CIw4

Every child in NYC deserves affordable and quality childcare and early education regardless of race, income, or immigration status. Children also deserve to have access to quality services outside of school, including youth development programming, afterschool, summer camp, and more. Yet, the proposed FY25 Preliminary Budget cuts funding for these vital services

👉 Swipe to read our FY25 budget recs that prioritize family and child well-being.

Full testimony is available on our website at bit.ly/3xbi2Zn

Swipe to discover FPWA's recommendations for this year's city budget that emphasize meaningful investments in anti-discrimination work — crucial for turning NYC's values into action.

Read the full testimony at bit.ly/4aqZGlE

📢 Join FPWA at this Saturday, March 23, 2:30-3:30 pm! Our Fiscal Policy Team will showcase our NYC Funds Tracker – a public advocacy tool & dashboard that enhances our understanding of NYC's budget process, promotes transparency, and empowers the human services sector to mobilize and advocate for change.

Find out more and get your tickets today: https://nycsodata24.sched.com/event/1bErj

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What's at stake for New Yorkers with low incomes in this year's NY State Budget? FPWA Policy Analysts discuss, highlighting the urgent need for investments in cash assistance, SNAP, childcare, & housing. These aren't just policies; they're lifelines for struggling New Yorkers.

Read the blog on our website here: https://bit.ly/3TIk8I3

On Monday we testified at the Committee on General Welfare!

Swipe for our key insights on how the city can prioritize economic security for New Yorkers with the lowest incomes in the FY25 budget.

Read the full testimony on our website at https://bit.ly/3TCoYYi

This week, FPWA observed , serving as a poignant reminder of the persistent gender wage gap and the pressing need for pay equity, particularly within the home care sector.

In a recent blog penned by Emily Pisano, Fiscal Policy Analyst at FPWA, the significant wage disparities faced by women of color are underscored, with statistics revealing that Black women earn only 70% of what White men do, and Hispanic women even less at 65%.

These inequities are especially pronounced in the home care sector, where a striking 82% of workers are women, predominantly women of color. On top of the existing wage challenges in the home care sector, proposed budget cuts by continue to pose a serious threat, exacerbating this already dire situation and putting the well-being of home care workers at risk.

Check out the blog: bit.ly/49PIkyT on our website to find out how FPWA will fight against wage deprivation and income inadequacy that can uplift all women, particularly women of color. This budget season let us all strive for a fair and equitable future that prioritizes .

Last week we testified at the Preliminary Budget Hearing on Immigration!

Investing in our immigrant communities is investing in NYC's future. It's crucial to align city policies and programs with longstanding New York values & to actively combat poverty, racism, and xenophobia. We look forward to working with the City to ensure that immigrant New Yorkers are empowered and can thrive.

Full testimony: bit.ly/3TfqVIF

It’s Preliminary Budget Hearing Season!

In the upcoming weeks, FPWA is testifying as part of NYC's preliminary budget hearings. Our focus will be emphasizing the significant impacts on human services & advocating for the city budget to adequately address the needs of New Yorkers with low incomes.

First stop - the Finance Committee hearing, where we shed light on worrying budget cuts that jeopardize essential services. Our goal is nothing short of fighting for an equitable and well-resourced sector.

Full testimony at bit.ly/3P9W0fI

Today FPWA joined the FY25 campaign to defend our city services from Mayor Adams' cuts & budget chaos & get the budget we all deserve. Take action & demand Mayor Eric Adams New York City Council deliver a budget w/ that invests in all of us: tinyurl.com/PeoplesBudgetFY25