Material hardship across the income distribution Hardship persists across the income distribution but is most common among those living below 200% of the poverty line. 27 Figure 4.3 shows the intersection between material hardship and poverty, through rates of material hard- ship by income relative to the poverty line (see Figure 1.3 for more details about this income measure). Roughly 40% of New Yorkers in poverty faced at least one form of hardship in 2022, as did 35% of those between 100% and 200% of the poverty line (i.e., New Yorkers with low incomes). Incidences of multiple hardships are also more common for New Yorkers with low incomes. A similar proportion of low-income New Yorkers and those in poverty experience multiple hardships (15% and 17%, respectively), compared to 10% of those with moderate incomes and 5% of those with incomes above 300% of the poverty line.
Hardship rates by income level Figure 4.3
Multiple hardships
Any hardship
45%
39%
40%
35%
35%
30%
26%
25%
20%
15%
15%
17%
10%
15%
10%
5%
5%
0%
In poverty (under 100%)
Low income (100%-200%)
Moderate income (200%-300%)
Higher income (300% +)
Source: Annual Poverty Tracker survey data, second, third, fourth, and fifth Poverty Tracker cohorts. Note: For a two-adult, two-child family in rental housing, 100% of the poverty line is $43,890, 200% is $87,780, and 300% is $131,670.
27 Note that we use the term “poverty line” to describe the poverty threshold.
THE STATE OF POVERTY AND DISADVANTAGE IN NEW YORK CITY 37
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