JEWISH COMMUNITY STUDY OF NEW YORK: 2011 SPECIAL REPORT ON POVERTY

Transcription

1 JEWISH COMMUNITY STUDY OF NEW YORK: 2011 SPECIAL REPORT ON POVERTY Community Briefing June 12, 2013 Tweeting encouraged using hashtag #JCSNY. Presentation by Jacob B. Ukeles, Ph.D. In Consultation With Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty 1

2 LEADERSHIP BRIEFING AGENDA Welcome Introduction Study Findings Q & A John Ruskay, Executive Vice President and CEO Scott A. Shay, Chair, Jewish Community Study Committee Jacob B. Ukeles, Report Author Alisa Doctoroff, Chair of the Board Implications for Alexandra Roth-Kahn, Managing Director, Caring Commission UJA-Federation Implications for William E. Rapfogel, Chief Executive Officer Agencies Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty Conclusion Alisa Doctoroff, Chair of the Board 2

3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jewish Community Study of New York Committee Scott A. Shay, Chair Laurie Blitzer Beth Finger Aileen Gitelson Billie Gold Cindy Golub Judah Gribetz John A. Herrmann Vivien Hidary Edward M. Kerschner Meyer Koplow Sara Nathan Leonard Petlakh Karen Radkowsky William E. Rapfogel Rabbi Peter Rubinstein Daniel Septimus David Silvers Tara Slone Nicki Tanner Julia E. Zeuner 3

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jewish Community Study of New York Technical Advisory Group Sid Groeneman, Ph.D. Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz, Ph.D. Gary Langer Ilene Marcus, MPA, MSW David Marker, Ph.D. David Pollock Joseph Salvo, Ph.D. Elizabeth Schnur, Ph.D. Audrey Weiner, DSW, MPH 4

5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Poverty Report Advisory Group UJA-Federation of New York Alexandra Roth-Kahn Managing Director, Caring Commission Roberta Leiner Senior Vice-President, Agency Relations Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty William E. Rapfogel Chief Executive Officer Ilene Marcus Chief of Staff Elise Slobodin Director of Planning, Caring Commission Ronald Soloway Managing Director, Government and External Relations 5

6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS UJA-Federation Professionals Alisa Rubin Kurshan, Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning and Organizational Resources Lyn Light Geller, Executive Director, Educational Resource and Organizational Development and Study Supervisor Jennifer Rosenberg, Director of Research and Study Director Leslie K. Lichter, Managing Director, Marketing and Communications Noel Rubinton, Director, Editorial Content Laura Sirowitz, Director, Commission Communications 6

7 THE RESEARCH TEAM Jewish Policy and Action Research (JPAR) Special Report on Poverty Authors Jacob B. Ukeles, Ph.D., Director of Special Studies Steven M. Cohen, Ph.D., Research Team Director Ron Miller, Ph.D., Senior Consultant David Dutwin, Ph.D., Survey Director and Chief Methodologist Pearl Beck, Ph.D., Director of Geographic Studies Svetlana Shmulyian, Ph.D., Director of Client Relations and Senior Consultant Joshua Comenetz, Ph.D., Mapping Consultant 7

8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Others Study Funders 300 lay and professional leaders from across the community who participated in forums to inform questionnaire development Other UJA-Federation staff who assisted with report production, fundraising, and more Interviewers Interviewees 8

9 CONTENTS The Study Highlights Extent of Jewish Poverty Growth in Jewish Poverty Changing Characteristics of the Poor & Near Poor Faces of the Poor & Near-Poor: Groups in Poverty Public Benefits and Human Services Geography of Poverty Reflections 9

10 THE JEWISH COMMUNITY STUDY OF NEW YORK:

11 THE STUDY: AREA Survey Area: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk & Westchester. 11

12 THE STUDY: DEFINITIONS JEWS Adults (ages 18 and over) who consider themselves Jewish or partially Jewish. Children being raised as Jews or Jewish and something else. JEWISH HOUSEHOLDS Households with one or more Jewish adults. Some include non-jewish adults or children. 12

13 THE STUDY: PROCESS Telephone interviews conducted from February 8, to July 10, Of 5,993 interviews, 1,302 conducted by cell phone. 79% interview cooperation rate. 32% response rate. Sampling error for survey responses for which all 5,993 respondents answered a question: +/- 2.0% at the 95% confidence level. 13

14 THE SPECIAL REPORT ON JEWISH POVERTY 14

15 THE SPECIAL REPORT ON JEWISH POVERTY The purpose of the Special Report on Jewish Poverty: Present a comprehensive picture of Jewish poverty in the eight-county New York area in Examine changes in Jewish poverty since Illuminate important policy choices in the communal response to Jewish poverty. 15

16 THE SPECIAL REPORT ON JEWISH POVERTY This report provides information on Jewish households, Jews, and people living in Jewish households who are poor or near poor in the eight-county New York area. A poor household is a household whose annual income is less than 150% of the 2010 federal poverty guideline, rounded off to the nearest hundred dollars and slightly modified for one- or two-person households with a senior resident. A near-poor household is a household whose annual income is between 150% and 250% of the 2010 federal poverty guideline, rounded off to the nearest hundred dollars. 16

17 THE SPECIAL REPORT ON JEWISH POVERTY Criteria for Defining Poor and Near-Poor Jewish Households Number of People in Household Income Level Poor Jewish Households Income Level Near-Poor Jewish Households One Person senior <$15,000 $15,000 to $26,000 One Person not senior <$16,500 $16,500 to $28,000 Two People at least one senior <$19,000 $19,000 to $32,000 Two People no seniors <$21,000 $21,000 to $36,000 Three People <$27,000 $27,000 to $45,000 Four People <$33,000 $33,000 to $55,000 Five People <$38,000 $38,000 to $64,000 Six People <$44,000 $44,000 to $73,000 Seven People <$50,000 $50,000 to $83,000 Eight People <$55,000 $55,000 to $92,000 17

18 HIGHLIGHTS

19 HIGHLIGHTS 1. The scale of Jewish poverty in the eight-county New York area is immense. 2. Over the past 20 years, Jewish poverty has grown much faster than the Jewish community as a whole. 3. Jewish poverty is multi-faceted. 4. There have been significant changes in the composition of Jewish poverty since Poverty remains concentrated in a small number of groups, each with their own challenges and needs. 6. Public benefits and human services are crucial elements in the support system of poor Jewish households. 7. Jewish poverty is concentrated in a few geographic areas. 19

20 THE IMMENSE SCALE OF JEWISH POVERTY

21 THE SCALE OF JEWISH POVERTY More than 560,000 people live in nearly 200,000 poor and near-poor Jewish households 32% of all people in Jewish households. Jewish Households Jews People in Jewish Households Poor 129, , ,100 Near Poor 66, , ,800 Not Poor 476,400 1,010,200 1,158,500 Poverty Status Not Known 21,800 41,200 45,600 Total 694,200 1,538,000 1,769,000 21

22 THE SCALE OF JEWISH POVERTY Jewish poverty is concentrated in New York City nearly 1 in 4 Jewish households is poor. In the suburban counties, 1 in 14 Jewish households is poor. Number of Poor Jewish Households Number of Jewish Households Percent of All Jewish Households New York City 117, ,000 24% Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester 13, ,300 7% Total 129, ,200 19% 22

23 THE SCALE OF JEWISH POVERTY Jewish near poor are also concentrated in New York City: 1 in 9 New York City Jewish households is near poor; in the suburban counties, 1 in 20 is near poor. Number of Near-Poor Jewish Households Number of Jewish Households Percent of All Jewish Households New York City 55, ,000 11% Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester 10, ,300 5% Total 66, ,200 10% 23

24 THE SCALE OF JEWISH POVERTY Of all people in the New York area, 1 in 4 lives in a poor household; 1 in 5 people lives in a poor Jewish household. Household People in All Households People in Jewish Households Poverty Status Number Percent Number Percent Poor 2,906,800 25% 361,100 20% Other 8,872,700 75% 1,407,900 80% Total 11,779, % 1,769, % 24

25 THE DRAMATIC GROWTH IN JEWISH POVERTY

26 GROWTH IN JEWISH POVERTY The number of people living in poor Jewish households today has increased 100% since 1991, while the number of people in Jewish households increased only 14% Change Percent Change Poor Jewish Households 73, ,900 56,900 78% Poor Jews 169, , ,900 82% People in Poor Jewish Households People in Jewish Households 179, , , % 1,554,000 1,769, ,000 14% 26

27 GROWTH IN JEWISH POVERTY Since 2002, the number of people living in poor Jewish households has grown 48% on top of an increase of 36% from 1991 to , , , , , , , ,000 73, , , , , ,000 0 Poor Jewish Households People in Poor Jewish Households 27

28 GROWTH IN JEWISH POVERTY The rate of growth in poor Jewish households in suburban counties since 2002 (86%), exceeded the rate of growth in New York City (22%). New York City Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Percent Change Percent Change Poor Jewish Households 96, , % 7,300 13, % All Jewish Households 454, ,000 +9% 188, ,300 +5% 28

29 DIVERSE FACETS OF JEWISH POVERTY 29

30 DIVERSE FACETS OF JEWISH POVERTY Life cycle is associated with poverty. Households with children under 18 are more likely to be poor or near poor. Households with seniors are more likely to be poor. Households that include someone who is divorced, separated, or widowed are more likely to be poor or near poor. 30

31 DIVERSE FACETS OF JEWISH POVERTY Education and employment are associated with poverty. Households where no one has more than a high school diploma are more likely to be poor. Households where no one has a bachelor s degree are more likely to be poor or near poor. 31

32 DIVERSE FACETS OF JEWISH POVERTY Poverty is more prevalent among some national origins and religious groups. A household with a respondent from the former Soviet Union is more likely to be poor or near poor. A Hasidic household is more likely to be poor or near poor. 32

33 CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF JEWISH POVERTY 33

34 CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF JEWISH POVERTY Since 2002, the percentage of poor Jewish households with children has increased; the percentage with seniors has decreased. Household Composition Poor Households With Children Ages 17 and Younger Poor Households With Only Adults Ages 18 to 64 Poor Households With Seniors Ages 65+ (no children 17 and younger) Percent of Poor Households Change in Percent, % 28% +6% 29% 29% 0% 50% 43% -7% Total 100% 100% 34

35 CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF JEWISH POVERTY There has been a decrease in the percent of respondents in poor households from the former Soviet Union. Where Respondent Born Percent of Respondents Change in Percent, Eight-County New York Area 39% 43% +4% Other United States 5% 7% +2% Former Soviet Union 38% 32% -6% Other not United States 17% 17% 0 Total 100% 100% 35

36 CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OF JEWISH POVERTY A higher percentage of poor households had low secular educational attainment in 2011 than in Highest Educational Level Percent of Poor Households Change in Percent, High School Diploma or Less 35% 41% +6% Some College or Associate s Degree 20% 27% +7% Bachelor s Degree 26% 16% -10% Master s Degree or Doctorate 19% 16% -3% Total 100% 100% 36

37 GROUPS: THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY

38 GROUPS: THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY The largest group of poor Jewish households in the New York area is Russian-speaking senior households. The second largest group is Hasidic households. Number of Poor Jewish Households Russian-Speaking Senior Households 2,200 13,400 Hasidic Households 9,800 10,900 17,200 20,200 33,900 22,300 Senior Households not Russianspeaking Unemployed or Underemployed Households Russian-Speaking Households no seniors Households That Include a Person With a Disability Single-Parent Households Other unclassified 38

39 GROUPS: THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY Nearly 3 of 4 Russian-speaking seniors are poor the highest incidence of Jewish poverty in the New York area. Of households that include a person with a disability who is unable to work, more than half are poor. Russian-Speaking Senior Households 72% Households That Include a Person With a Disability Who is Unable to Work 54% Hasidic Households 45% Unemployed or Underemployed Households Russian-Speaking Households no seniors Single-Parent Households 14% 20% 20% Senior Households not Russian-speaking 10% 39

40 GROUPS: THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY Senior households that are not Russian-speaking rank first in the number of near-poor Jewish households; Russian-speaking households that do not include a senior rank second. Number of Near-Poor Jewish Households 3,200 5,400 2,400 15,200 Senior Households not Russian-Speaking Russian-Speaking Households no seniors Hasidic Households 3,900 8,300 10,400 Unemployed or Underemployed Households Households Where Neither Spouse nor Respondent Has a Bachelor s Degree Single-Parent Households 8,500 8,900 Russian-Speaking Senior Households Households That Include a Person With a Disability Other unclassified 40

41 GROUPS: THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY Single-parent households have the highest incidence of near poverty of any group (24%). Single-Parent Households 24% Russian-Speaking Households no seniors Hasidic Households 19% 18% Households Where Neither Spouse nor Respondent has a Bachelor s Degree Households That Include a Person With a Disability Who is Unable to Work 13% 15% Unemployed or Underemployed Households 10% Senior Households not Russian-speaking Russian-Speaking Senior Households 7% 8% 41

42 RELIANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HUMAN SERVICES

43 RELIANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HUMAN SERVICES Three of four poor Jewish households, as well as half of near-poor Jewish households, receive at least one of eight public benefits: SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, low-income housing, Child Health Plus, or daycare subsidies. Use of Public Benefits Poor Jewish Households Near-Poor Jewish Households Number Percent Number Percent Recipients 97,000 75% 32,700 49% Nonrecipients 30,900 24% 23,500 35% Not Known 2,000 2% 10,000 15% Total 129, % 66, % 43

44 RELIANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HUMAN SERVICES The SNAP program (formerly food stamps) is the public benefit most widely used by poor Jewish households. Poor Households Near-Poor Households Type of Assistance Number Percent Number Percent SNAP (formerly food stamps) 62,600 48% 9,000 14% Medicaid 42,300 33% 8,300 13% Medicare 41,000 32% 10,800 16% Social Security 39,000 30% 20,200 31% SSI 20,700 16% 2,000 3% Section 8 or Public Housing 17,500 13% 2,800 4% Daycare Subsidies 6,400 5% 500 1% Child Health Plus 4,000 3% 2,600 4% All Households 129,900 NA* 66,200 NA* * Not applicable. 44

45 RELIANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HUMAN SERVICES Poor and near-poor households are more likely to seek humanservice assistance than those that are not poor services related to serious or chronic illness, disability, older adults, finding a job, food or housing, or children with special needs. Poor Jewish Households Near-Poor Jewish Households Not Poor/Poverty Status Not Known Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Sought Assistance 69,800 54% 34,600 52% 179,400 36% Did Not Seek Assistance 60,100 46% 31,500 48% 318,800 64% Total 129, % 66, % 498, % 45

46 RELIANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HUMAN SERVICES Poor households most frequently sought services for a serious illness, for food, or housing; near-poor households most frequently sought services for a serious illness or help finding a job. Type of Service Poor Households Near-Poor Households Number Percent Number Percent Services for Serious or Chronic Illness 28,000 22% 16,600 25% Food or Housing 25,900 20% 8,000 12% Services for an Adult With a Disability 23,000 18% 10,200 15% Help Finding a Job 19,700 15% 12,000 18% Services for an Older Adult in the Household 14,000 11% 3,400 5% Help for a Child With Special Needs 7,800 6% 5,000 8% Total 129,900 NA* 66,200 NA* * Not applicable. 46

47 RELIANCE ON PUBLIC BENEFITS AND HUMAN SERVICES Poor and near-poor households have greater difficulty accessing the services they seek than the nonpoor. Percent Having Great Difficulty Accessing Services Type of Service Poor Near Poor Help Finding a Job or Choosing an Occupation Not Poor/Poverty Status Not Known 58% 57% 34% Food or Housing 37% 50% 23% Help for a Child With a Physical, Developmental, or Learning Disability or Other Special Needs Services for an Adult With a Disability Services for Household Member s Serious or Chronic Illness Services for an Older Adult in the Household 34% 26% 13% 29% 16% 17% 22% 16% 9% 18% 12% 9% 47

48 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY 48

49 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY Poverty and near poverty is concentrated in New York City. New York City Suburban Counties Total Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Poor Jewish Households Near-Poor Jewish Households All Jewish Households 116,900 90% 13,000 10% 129, % 55,700 84% 10,400 16% 66, % 496,000 71% 198,300 29% 694, % 49

50 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan account for about 80% of the poor and near-poor Jewish households in the eight-county area. County Percent of Poor Households Percent of Near-Poor Households Percent of Households, Not Poor/Poverty Status Not Known Bronx 6% 4% 4% Brooklyn 58% 39% 20% Manhattan 12% 13% 26% Queens 12% 25% 13% Staten Island 1% 3% 3% Nassau 4% 8% 17% Suffolk 3% 4% 7% Westchester 3% 4% 11% Total 100% 100% 100% 50

51 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY In 16 out of 30 primary Jewish areas, fewer than 10% of the Jewish households are poor. 5% 5% 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 2% 1% 1% 12% 11% 9% 11% 11% 9% 9% 9% 8% 8% 16% 19% 24% 30% 30% 39% 44% 44% 55% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 51

52 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY Of 30 primary Jewish areas, seven display very high rates of poverty, ranging from 24% to 55% of Jewish households in these areas. Areas With the Largest Percentages of Poor Households Williamsburg 55% Borough Park Bensonhurst/Gravesend/Bay Ridge Coney Island/Brighton Beach/Sheepshead Bay 39% 44% 44% Flatbush/Midwood/Kensington Washington Heights/Inwood 30% 30% Kings Bay/Madison 24% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 52

53 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY Of 30 primary Jewish areas, eight display high rates of near-poverty: from 11% to 26% of Jewish households in these areas. Forest Hills/Rego Park/Kew Gardens Area 26% Williamsburg Borough Park Kew Garden Hills/Jamaica/Fresh Meadows Area Flatbush/Midwood/Kensington Coney Island/Brighton Beach/Sheepshead Bay Mid-Staten Island Riverdale/Kingsbridge 17% 16% 16% 15% 13% 13% 11% 0% 10% 20% 30% 53

54 THE HIGH GEOGRAPHIC DENSITY OF POVERTY While most poor Jewish households live in primary Jewish areas, the rate of Jewish poverty is actually higher outside. Primary Jewish Areas Secondary/Residual Jewish Areas Total Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Poor Jewish Households Near-Poor Jewish Households 92,500 17% 37,400 24% 129,900 19% 49,800 9% 16,200 10% 66,000 10% Not Poor/Not Known 396,000 74% 102,300 66% 498,300 72% Total 538, % 155, % 694, % 54

55 THE STUDY: AREAS OF JEWISH RESIDENCE 55

56 THE STUDY: AREAS OF JEWISH RESIDENCE 56

57 REFLECTIONS 57

58 REFLECTIONS New York s organized Jewish community should be proud of its efforts to combat Jewish poverty. Yet the scale of Jewish poverty remains enormous, has grown dramatically, and affects many sectors of the community. Jewish poverty represents a serious concern for the organized Jewish community -- it is, and should be, high on the communal agenda. At the same time, Jewish poverty cannot be eliminated by the Jewish community if the federal government couldn t win the war on poverty, the Jewish community certainly cannot. 58

59 REFLECTIONS Key Strategic Questions: Given that Jewish poverty cannot be eliminated, what are the best outcomes that one can expect to achieve? How much should be spent, and what criteria should drive the communal allocation for Jewish poverty? What should be the relative balance between investments in the poor versus the near poor? How should the overall strategy differentiate among different groups of the poor and near poor and different parts of the metropolitan area? 59

60 REFLECTIONS Is there more the New York Jewish community can do to help some people climb out of poverty? Most poor Hasidic households have at least one person working full-time, but the level of secular education is very low. Can leaders from within multiple Hasidic communities be engaged in upgrading secular education in culturally sensitive ways? On the other hand, poor Russian-speaking households (not seniors) are highly educated but are much less likely to have anyone working full-time. Can leadership from outside and within the Russian-speaking community be engaged to provide jobs and training? 60

61 REFLECTIONS Advocacy Report findings suggest that low-income housing, transportation for seniors, and child care could be priority areas for public advocacy. Can the report re-energize advocacy efforts and focus efforts on the most important needs of the poor and near poor? Can more sectors of community leadership be engaged in public advocacy? 61

62 REFLECTIONS Direct Service and Safety Net In seeking to complement the assistance provided by government, where should efforts be targeted? Those in greatest need for example, poor Russian-speaking seniors or people with a disability who cannot work. The near-poor who are not eligible for many public benefits. 62

63 CONCLUSION This report is not a substitute for compassion, professionalism, leadership, resources or vision. But it can help to heighten awareness of the severity of Jewish poverty, illuminate important strategic choices facing communal leadership, and provide a more data-driven framework for communal decision making. 63

64 Jewish Community Study of New York: 2011 To access the full report, visit For more information, contact or