“I am pleased to have been selected by Speaker Heastie to participate in this Assembly Majority Anti-Poverty Work Group,” said Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, Chair of the Committee on Higher Education. “This is a real opportunity to focus on the obstacles confronting poor New Yorkers and provide solutions to assist them in moving themselves and their families out of poverty. I want to thank the Speaker for shinning a spotlight on this important issue.”

Almost 1.4 million people in New York are living in extreme poverty. This includes a disproportionally high numbers of children, women, elderly and minorities. The group will undertake an evaluation of the drastic increase of New Yorkers living in poverty and identify solutions to combat it.

The Anti-Poverty Work Group is made up of members from varying committees and with specific expertise who will focus on lifting New Yorkers out of poverty. The work group will analyze ways to address challenges New Yorkers face related to:

• Nutrition and hunger;
• Literacy, funding needy schools and higher education;
• Supportive housing, shelters and rental assistance;
• Fair labor practices, including a meaningful minimum wage;
• Job training;
• Increased access to quality child care and after-school programs; and
• Increased access to health care.

"America's dramatic economic success in the second-half of the 20th century can be traced directly to the GI-bill which expanded access to higher education,” Assemblymember Glick continued. “We have long known that the avenue out of poverty passes through institutions of higher learning. I am pleased to be working with my colleagues to ensure access for all New Yorkers as we work toward eradicating poverty throughout New York."