Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York is encouraged by the news that the federal government will reopen. In addition to putting earnings and back pay into the pockets of struggling federal workers, an end to the federal government shutdown also avoids worsening the negative impact that unfunded programs would have on the hundreds of thousands of children and families living in poverty in NYC.

In NYC alone:

• Nearly 1:3 of households (254,621) with children under the age of 18 receive food stamps to help families with low income buy food
• More than 250,000 children receive WIC to improve health and nutrition during early childhood
• Three-quarters of NYC Public School students (839,705) are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals
• More than 85,00 households (201,936 tenants), many with children under the age of 18, rely on federal section 8 vouchers from NYCHA to maintain housing stability.