Overlooked and Undercounted: Journey to a “Real Living Wage”

Overlooked and Undercounted:

Journey to a “Real Living Wage”

The Bare Necessities …

More than two out of five NYC households – over 940,000 households – lack enough income to cover necessities such as food, shelter, health care, and child care.

- Overlooked and Undercounted: The Struggle to Make Ends Meet in New York City

Over 14 years, the wage required for a household to be self-sufficient has

increased by 45%. The median earnings of working adults have only

increased by 17%.

- Overlooked and Undercounted: The

Struggle to Make Ends Meet in New York City

The Great Depression was devastating … the 2.7 million New Yorkers struggling

due to inadequate wages is also devastating.

1930 2015

Yankee Stadium could not hold all of New York City’s homeless; many of whom work

but do not earn enough to be self-sufficient.

Hard Working … Living in Poverty

Families are not poor just because they lack workers or work hours, but they are poor due to inadequate wages.

- Overlooked and Undercounted: The

Struggle to Make Ends Meet in New York City

The Faces of Poverty …Individuals and married couples with children are a substantial portion of those struggling to make ends meet in NYC. - Overlooked and

Undercounted: The Struggle to Make Ends Meet in New York City

The Faces of Poverty …“I live with my parents because the rent is too expensive. I work over 60 hours a week but don’t have enough for my own place … ” - Angelo Frangaj, “It’s

Officially Impossible to Afford NYC Rents on the Minimum Wage,” NY Daily News

Education is No GuaranteeFor women and people of color, higher levels of education do not guarantee lower rates of income inadequacy.

Poverty lives in multiple zip codes.

New York City has a greater income inadequacy than several states –

including Mississippi. Mississippi – About 33% New York City – 42%

Poverty transcends gender, ethnicity, age, education, and

geographical location. No one should live in poverty. All

New Yorkers deserve to be self-sufficient. All New

Yorkers need real living wages.

Will you answer the call

to action?

Fight for a REAL LIVING

WAGE of $20/hr.

www.RealLivingWageNYC.org