Pandemic Increases Hunger, Housing Insecurity For NY Kids

By Andrea Sears, Public News Service-NY

December 24, 2020

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new report shows the economic fallout of the COVID pandemic is having a big impact on children, in New York and nationwide.

The report, from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, looked at how kids are faring based on weekly surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau.

It found from mid-September to mid-October, 14% of families with children said they "sometimes or often" didn't have enough food.

Margie Lawlor, director of Resilient Children and Families in Bath, New York, noted many more families in her sparsely populated, rural region are now seeking food assistance.

"We had some drive-through food distributions that had 500 families registered," Lawlor observed. "So, that tells us they were finding ways to get there, they were registering ahead of time and the need was great."

The survey also found 23% of New York adults with children had "little or no confidence" that they'd be able to pay their rent or mortgage on time.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the Foundation, said the impact has been even more severe for families of color.

The survey shows Black and Latino families were about twice as likely to be experiencing food and housing insecurity and to lack health insurance.

"The pandemic has laid bare and really exacerbated racial and ethnic inequities in this country," Boissiere contended. "And we've seen that Black, Latino and Native communities in particular have been hard hit."

Another finding: 22% of New York adults with children reported feeling "down, depressed or hopeless" in recent weeks.

Lawlor pointed out the inability to socialize and spend time with extended family is contributing to those feelings, especially during the holiday season.

"Having those social connections is one of the five protective factors that keep families strong and prevent child abuse," Lawlor explained. "And people have lost those connections. And it's dragging on and on and on; it's getting harder to cope with it."

The report recommended pandemic response efforts prioritize ensuring racial and ethnic equity, and COVID-19 vaccines be available to all regardless of ability to pay.

Disclosure: Annie E Casey Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Education, Juvenile Justice, and Welfare Reform. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

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