New York City’s affordability crisis is only getting more dire. Families are struggling to afford basic necessities, housing insecurity is impacting our most vulnerable, and income inequality continues to widen. The skyrocketing cost of living is taking the biggest toll on working families – with many being priced out of their neighborhoods or the city entirely.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s FY 26 executive budget demonstrates her laser-focus on helping New Yorkers tackle rising costs. She built in $3 billion to provide Inflation Refund checks of up to $500 to over 8.6 million New York households and $825 million to expand New York’s child tax credit for 1.6 million families.
We need all hands on deck to address the worsening affordability crisis, and Governor Hochul’s proposals are a welcome, immediate lifeline. But addressing a crisis this deep and complex is both a marathon and a sprint. New Yorkers need money in their pockets today, but they also need support setting their children – and grandchildren – up for long-term career success and financial security.
As executive director of The HOPE Program, a non-profit dedicated to helping New Yorkers build sustainable careers and lives through job training, career advancement and lifelong support, I know how a complex web of factors within a community – poor infrastructure, fewer public transit options, a lack of grocery stores and higher temperatures – can impact someone’s ability to maintain a steady job, a home or a support system. For countless New Yorkers, their career and long-term success is determined by which neighborhood they grew up in.
For over forty years, The HOPE Program’s focus has been steadfast in creating opportunities, lowering recidivism, and disrupting cycles of poverty through holistic services that address the multifaceted challenges faced by New Yorkers. After training over 400 cohorts and thousands of graduates, we know what works. We’ve seen the success of traditional job placement programs, but the urgent needs of local communities have evolved significantly. To build a city where future generations can afford to comfortably live, work, and play, we must deepen our impact in neighborhoods to drive lasting economic mobility, strengthen community resilience, and address the most urgent challenges of today – which includes environmental harm.
Thanks to the green economy, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine communities, careers, and economic mobility in the neighborhoods most burdened by poverty and environmental harm. By deepening our commitment to the development of both sustainable careers and neighborhoods, we can build a future where everyone in New York City – regardless of who they are or which neighborhood they grew up in – has the means to care for themselves and their families in healthier homes and communities.
The green sector is rapidly expanding in New York City. Green jobs are expected to account for 7% of the city’s workforce and contribute $87B to the city’s economy annually, by 2040. The bulk of these roles are in the building space – from construction and installation to architecture and management – and provide pathways to family-sustaining wages. This emerging sector has become an engine for the city’s economic growth and it’s crucial that individuals most affected by environmental harm have the opportunity to benefit from it. Programs like NYC CoolRoofs, which provides New Yorkers with paid training in installing energy-saving rooftops, prepare participants to enter this lucrative line of work, by gaining in-demand skills and knowledge, all while earning a living wage.
To truly deepen our impact in underserved neighborhoods, we need to expand beyond just typical job training – we also need to build and maintain more green spaces, install more reflective rooftops, and provide educational opportunities for local residents. These efforts will create the most meaningful impact if we include – through a holistic combination of job training, hiring, and community planning – the individuals who need our help the most.
Addressing the myriad challenges that prevent countless people from engaging with or fully committing to a job training program is essential. At HOPE, the people we serve face disproportionately higher unemployment rates than the average New Yorker. We have to meet people where they are by offering in-person and virtual sessions, pre-program educational services—such as GED certification and tutoring— and engaging alumni as ambassadors to facilitate outreach directly in communities.
Ensuring long-term success goes beyond an inflation check or securing a well-paying job. Moving forward, we must boost our investments and resources in career and wraparound services for the people we serve. At HOPE, for example, we are striving to be a lifeline for advancement and development by providing our alumni more opportunities for networking, ongoing education, and additional training and certification options well after they secure a job.
In our approach to supporting New Yorkers through economic hurdles, we can’t afford to be short-sighted. Cultivating a future where everyone flourishes requires both fostering financial security and advancing environmental well-being. By developing programs that take both into account, we can create sustainable and thriving communities across our city.
