New Data Reveals Hidden Realities of Child Poverty in Westchester

Westchester Children's Association (WCA), the county's leading independent voice for the children and youth of Westchester, will host, Poverty Pulse, a pivotal discussion on issues affecting children across the county on Thursday, December 11. The event will take place from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the YWCA in White Plains, NY.

The WCA’s groundbreaking research consistently shows that many families in Westchester County face persistent insecurities around housing, food, clothing, and other essentials—challenges that often go unrecorded in traditional government datasets. In response, the WCA has developed an innovative new data tool, the Poverty Pulse, which provides real-time insights into the state of poverty in the county.

"We created Poverty Pulse to establish a more timely measure in response to the historical lag in reporting poverty rates in the United States. The traditional poverty rate also fails to acknowledge regional differences in costs of living that impact economic well-being. This past year has shown us the importance of turning to our local community to accurately assess the financial struggles of families who want nothing more than to provide for their children," said Limarie Cabrera Director of Data, Finance, and Operations at WCA.

During the event, the WCA will unveil an updated Poverty Pulse digital dashboard, that was created with the support of Regeneron’s Using Data for Good, a program which pairs Regeneron volunteers with local nonprofits to support a data-related capacity need. The new dashboard will show current data from community organizations actively engaged in poverty reduction efforts across Westchester. This report highlights the immediate and pressing needs of families living in poverty and explores potential solutions for their long-term financial stability.

The morning will also feature a panel discussion with prominent local organizations deeply involved in addressing poverty, including 914 Cares, Feeding Westchester, The Sharing Shelf, West Hab, and United Way of Westchester and Putnam. This discussion aims to deepen the understanding of the challenges these families face and to forge pathways to significant and sustainable improvement in their lives.

Community leaders, stakeholders, and media representatives are encouraged to attend to learn more about how they can support the efforts of WCA and its partners in making a tangible difference in the lives of Westchester's children and families, registration is required. 

About Westchester Children's Association: Westchester Children's Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Westchester's young people by shaping policies and programs to meet their needs, and by keeping the county’s decision-makers and the public informed about the issues affecting youth.