Report: Need for children, families services soars

One of the measurements used by the Westchester Children's Association to track demand for children's services in the county. WESTCHESTER CHILDREN'S ASSOCIATION

By MARTIN WILBUR

Federal government data shows that the child poverty rate in Westchester fell noticeably in 2024, but representatives from five nonprofit organizations say the need for assistance for families in the county is greater than ever.

The Westchester Children’s Association, a leading group that looks to improve the lives of children throughout the county, recently unveiled its updated Poverty Pulse Dashboard tracking month-to-month statistics for services from Feeding Westchester; Westhab, which provides shelter for families; The Sharing Shelf clothing distribution; United Way’s 211 helpline; and diaper requests to 914Cares. From October 2024 through September 2025, the report revealed that the services requested exceeded the same time period a year earlier.

Poverty rates often fail to reflect the struggles local families face when prices rise, said Limarie Cabrera, director or data, operations and finance for the Westchester Children’s Association. The 2025 poverty rate in the continental U.S. is $32,150 for a family of four.

“The poverty rate is still being calculated using an old methodology from the 1960s when food was the primary expense,” Cabrera said at the start of a 90-minute discussion Dec. 12 at the YWCA in White Plains on challenges facing many Westchester families. “You will also note that the poverty rate doesn’t address regional costs of living, and in a place like Westchester County, which is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States, that is a big deal.”

Data reveals that The Sharing Shelf had more clothing requests in every month in the most recent 12-month period studies compared to the previous year, including 787 in September, which far exceeded the 612 requests in September 2024. 

Westhab had an occupancy rate as high as 103.5% and has exceeded 100% in two other months of the study period, said Elissa Ramos, assistant vice president, Westchester housing programs. Calls to the United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s 211 helpline skyrocketed in September to 664, an increase of more than 100 calls in the same month in 2024. 

Family shelter occupation rates provided one of the measurements in the Westchester Children's Association's Poverty Pulse Dashboard.

Requests for diapers rose in nine of the 12 months, reaching 5,823 in May, at 914Cares. Last December, the organization temporarily paused its clothing and essential needs program, and when it reopened saw its second highest demand of the past year, just below the high in May. It distributed more than 1 million diapers over the past year, with the need estimated at about 8 million, said Sarah Carmona, 914Cares’ government relations, advocacy and data manager.

Feeding Westchester’s servicing of children under 18 years old was at or just below the previous year’s highs, although in September it nearly matched the September 2024 numbers with 77,547. Tami Wilson, the chief operating officer at Feeding Westchester, said the volume of food provided to pantries countywide does not reflect true need because the organization can only distribute what it can afford in its budget.

Also, the stigma of asking for help plays a part in obscuring the real need within the county.

“Asking for help should not be shameful,” Wilson said. “We should not be so independent that we can’t ask for help.”

Deborah Blatt, founder of The Sharing Shelf, said a larger problem is that so many of her organization’s clientele work full time, whether it be in retail or other service jobs, but can’t seem to afford items that are seen as essential. As inflation persists, even at a reduced level, more families fall into food, clothing and housing insecurity, she said.

“We created a system that accepts cheaper prices at the cost of the dignity of the people who are in these stores serving us,” Blatt said.

The discussion also raised how if a household experiences one type of insecurity, such as food, it will likely experience need in other areas. Avery Zuvic, senior director of community impact at United Way of Westchester and Putnam, said there are more callers to the 211 helpline that are inquiring about multiple needs and places to find assistance.

“Some are calling 211 because they don’t know where to turn,” Zuvic said. “It’s not yet in the data, but the tone of these interventions is different. The expectation of the people looking for help is different.”

Panelists stressed to the roughly 100 people who attended the program that advocacy is crucial, including pressuring elected officials to find solutions through greater funding and legislation, and partnering with other organizations to help those in need.

“From Staten Island to Buffalo, there are like-minded organizations in the faith-based community and the political community who, when given a forum and an opportunity to come together, more often than not show up,” said Westchester Children’s Association CEO Adam Rabinovitch. “Issues related to all of the topics we were hearing today, food insecurity and certainly mental health being there. We’re also focused on youth justice outcomes that we’re involved with in Albany.”

For more information about the Westchester Children’s Association and to view its Poverty Pulse Dashboard, visit wca4kids.org.