Care for the Homeless hosts film screening and discussion. Join us February 27th.

Mayor Bill de Blasio was elected on a “Tale of Two Cities” – one incredibly rich and privileged and one poor or struggling and losing ground. Care for the Homeless works every day to deliver life changing services to the most vulnerable families and individuals struggling daily in New York City. As part of our advocacy for our clients we’re participating in a national conversation about economic inequality in America and what can be done about it.

Join us for a special screening of the film Inequality for All

This week, on Thursday, February 27th, Care for the Homeless and our client leaders are sponsoring a showing of the movie “Inequality for All” and an open discussion following the screening. The program begins at 5 p.m. in the CFH conference room on the 5th floor of 30 E. 33rd Street. 
If you want to join us please e-mail policy@cfhnyc.org because seating is limited.

The award-winning movie Inequality for All is based on a course Dr. Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, teaches at the University of California. The open conversation that follows will include film reactions and focus on what could be done to ease economic inequality in New York City.

The movie isn’t specific to New York City, but Mayor de Blasio is right in portraying us as two worlds. New York boasts more billionaires than any other city in the world (80 at last count) and more millionaires than anyplace in America. But among our beautiful structures and incredible culture is another story.

When the Census Bureau released its annual report last September the “official” poverty rate in NYC was 21.2%, up from 20.9% in 2012 and 20.1% in 2010. That’s high, heading in the wrong direction and represents 1.7+ million people below the poverty threshold. For children in the Big Apple the rate is 31%.

Worse, this actually understates the problem, because the poverty rate doesn’t adjust for regional cost-of-living differences. In other words, the 21.2% poverty rate is based on measure that calculates the cost of living as the same in expensive Manhattan, New York as precisely the same as in Manhattan, Kansas.

Our conversation will be lively. We’ll include differing points of view and welcome your participation. Please rsvp today.          

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