Empowering New Yorkers through affordability
Other cities have patios and porches, but for many New Yorkers a front stoop is the best place to relax, chat, and watch the city go by. It’s literally where many New Yorkers’ homes begin, the gateway to where they make their plans and raise their kids, and affordability is always top of mind. That’s why city agencies are working every day to deliver results that make New York City the very best place to raise a family.
New York City has consistently increased job opportunities, and is now celebrating an addition of nearly 4.9 million total jobs. This marks the 12th time the city has broken the all-time jobs record since 2022, reflecting a steady climb in employment that continues to shape the city’s economy. In addition to the overall job growth, the city’s annual Summer Youth Employment Program is in its fourth straight year of offering over 100,000 jobs and other paid opportunities to NYC teens. These valuable experiences often serve as a first step toward long-term careers.
When housing demand is high, affordable homes become harder to find. To tackle this challenge, New York City introduced and passed the “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” a plan that aims to construct 100,000 new homes and generate nearly 260,000 temporary and 6,300 permanent jobs over the next 15 years. This plan includes the transformation of vacant office space into apartments, the elimination of outdated mandates, and the creation of more housing in every community. And in the last four years, New York City has already broken multiple records for affordable housing production by creating, preserving, and planning approximately 426,800 homes through its housing initiatives. As the number of homes increases, housing becomes more affordable.
The “Money In Your Pocket” initiative ensures that New Yorkers are aware of financial assistance programs which can ease the cost of living for working-class families. This program informs and screens city residents for more than 70 money-saving city, state, and federal programs they may qualify for, such as Fair Fares, SNAP benefits, the Earned Income Tax Credit, Big Apple Connect, and more. For more information on how you can save money, visit nyc.gov/moneyinyourpocket.
For many New York City families, groceries and transportation costs have greatly increased in recent years. The “Axe The Tax For The Working Class” initiative brings significant tax relief to working-class families by eliminating the New York City personal income tax for filers with dependents living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line, and lowering personal income taxes for those slightly above that threshold. This will return over $63 million to more than 582,000 New Yorkers.
To make working in New York City more convenient for parents, the Department of Youth and Community Development has announced After-School for All, a $331 million increase in funding for afterschool programs, expanding opportunities for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This additional funding creates 20,000 new seats in afterschool programs across all five boroughs, offering parents an even wider range of safe spaces for their children.
More than 300,000 of your neighbors work at city agencies and are a proud part of the more than 8 million people living in our five boroughs. Their efforts ensure that we can continue to build our lives, raise our families, and plan our futures in New York City. From jobs and housing, to tax relief and youth programs, New York City is working to make everyday life more affordable and equitable for everyone. Every day. Everywhere.
For more information about city agencies and available programs, visit deliveringforyou.nyc.
