Opportunity NYC Demonstrations- Work Rewards
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Opportunity NYC includes three separate demonstration projects that help poor families avoid long-term poverty: Family Rewards, Work Rewards, and Spark. Each project involves linking temporary cash payments (called cash transfers) to actions and achievements. It is currently being tested in six districts in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, NY that house predominantly impoverished Black and Latino residents.
The Work Rewards program’s primary objective is to increase the workforce efforts of low-income adults living in subsidized housing. The program targets individuals who receive Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Authority. The program builds on the concept of mutual responsibility. Individuals are only awarded monetary payments if they meet certain workforce-related conditions. Such conditions include sustaining full-time employment and participating in approved education or job training while working either part time or full time.
Support for this program is provided by numerous foundations and private funders.
The Work Rewards program’s primary objective is to increase the workforce efforts of low-income adults living in subsidized housing. The program targets individuals who receive Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York City Housing Authority. The program builds on the concept of mutual responsibility. Individuals are only awarded monetary payments if they meet certain workforce-related conditions. Such conditions include sustaining full-time employment and participating in approved education or job training while working either part time or full time.
Support for this program is provided by numerous foundations and private funders.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this program was to increase the workforce efforts of low-income adults living in subsidized housing.
Results / Accomplishments
MDRC is currently conducting a randomized controlled trial evaluation involving 3,987 Section 8 recipients to assess short and long-term impacts of the program. Labor-related and other outcomes will be tracked over five years.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Mayor Bloomberg’s Center for Economic Opportunity
Primary Contact
James Riccio
MDRC
19th Floor
16 East 34 Street
New York, NY 10016-4326
(212) 532-3200
publications@mdrc.org
http://www.mdrc.org/project/opportunity-nyc-demons...
MDRC
19th Floor
16 East 34 Street
New York, NY 10016-4326
(212) 532-3200
publications@mdrc.org
http://www.mdrc.org/project/opportunity-nyc-demons...
Topics
Economy / Poverty
Economy / Employment
Economy / Employment
Organization(s)
Mayor Bloomberg’s Center for Economic Opportunity
Source
MDRC
Date of publication
Mar 2010
Date of implementation
2007
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
New York City
For more details
Target Audience
Adults
Additional Audience
Section 8 Recipients