51 percent of New Yorkers are poor or low-income - a total of 9.9 millions residents; 61 percent of children (2.6 million), 52 percent of women (5.2 million), 67 percent of people of color (5.6 million), and 39% of white people (4.3 million).
Many of these individuals work 40 hour weeks, yet at minimum wages opposed to living wages. Studies show a single mother of two in the Rochester community need an income of at least $18 an hour working 40 hours weekly to equate a living wage.