In June 2026, New York City announced the expansion of the Fair Fares NYC program, increasing eligibility from 150 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. This expansion will extend eligibility for half-priced subway and bus fares to an estimated 1.3 million working-age New York City residents and will reduce transportation costs for many households struggling to afford the city's rising cost of living.
CSS VP of Policy, Research & Advocacy Rachel Swaner calls on the Council to expand Fair Fares eligibility to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to better meet the urgent transportation needs of financially struggling New Yorkers.
At a Banking Designation hearing by the NYC Banking Commission, we urged the city to invest in a public bank that meets the needs of New Yorkers who are struggling to gain economic security.
We are urging the U.S. Department of Education to preserve and strengthen IDR and PSLF programs, warning that proposed rollbacks would deepen financial distress for millions of borrowers.
To learn about people’s experiences interacting with the public benefits system, we surveyed New Yorkers about the difficulties they encountered when applying.
Launched five years ago, Fair Fares provides discounted MetroCards to and has been a game-changer for thousands of city residents, connecting them to jobs, training opportunities, medical care, social events, and so much more.
We shared findings from our recent research before the NYC Council General Welfare Committee to highlight some of the core challenges within our public benefits system that are adversely impacting New Yorkers.
Widespread support for public banking among New Yorkers underscores the urgent need for government-chartered financial institutions to address ongoing discrimination and inequities in the current banking system.
Key reforms to refundable tax credits—including expanding the Empire State Child Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit—would reduce child poverty, improve economic security, and promote long-term financial stability for low-income New Yorkers.
Gaps in pay contribute to gaps in savings and wealth, making women and people of color disproportionately vulnerable to unexpected economic shocks and unable to save sufficiently for retirement
An undisputable truth about the outcome of the 2024 presidential election is that it underscored the disconnect between the perception of a vibrant economy and the reality on the ground for many voters.
The National True Cost of Living Coalition applauds the Urban Institute’s release today of a cutting-edge report on the true cost of economic security in America.
According to the latest American Community Survey (ACS) data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate in New York City remained unchanged at 18.2 percent in 2023. This is the third consecutive year since 2019 when the poverty rate held steady.
The New York City Council passed the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25), the largest in the city’s history at $112.4 billion. In this brief, we assess how the programs we champion fared in the Adopted Budget.