What do you do when taking care of your health means putting your job on the line?

For a Brooklynite like Wendell, getting sick came with a price he couldn’t afford. Without paid sick leave, every doctor’s visit meant lost wages—and the risk of falling behind on rent and bills. The result: a cycle of exhaustion, illness, and work that feels impossible to break.

In this episode, Wendell shares his story of pushing through pain, navigating the city’s healthcare maze, and learning how to advocate for himself along the way. His story of becoming a NYC Care member captures the quiet courage of New Yorkers who keep the city moving while struggling to care for themselves in a system where healing too often comes at a cost.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

Support Robin Hood’s work to elevate New Yorkers out of poverty at https://give.robinhood.org/give/61654/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=YT.

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What happens when going to the doctor means risking your paycheck, your rent, or your livelihood?

In New York City, getting sick can cost more than your health—it can cost you your paycheck, your rent, or even your job. For low-income workers who lack paid sick leave, time off for a doctor’s visit or recovery isn’t an option; it’s a luxury. That impossible tradeoff—between caring for your health and staying afloat financially—is all too common in a city where essential workers keep the city running, even when they’re running on empty. Whether dealing with chronic illness, long COVID, or everyday ailments, these New Yorkers are often left to choose between healing and survival.

In this episode, our hosts Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper are joined by Dr. Jonathan Jiménez, Executive Director of NYC Care at NYC Health + Hospitals, to examine how the city is working to close the care gap for those left out of the traditional health system—especially the uninsured. Dr. Jiménez brings years of public health and clinical experience to the conversation, reflecting on the structural barriers that force people to sacrifice their well-being for economic stability—and how NYC Care is creating pathways to primary care, dignity, and long-term health for all. This is a conversation about what kind of city we become when the basic right to get better is out of reach for those who keep our city going.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

Support Robin Hood’s work to elevate New Yorkers out of poverty at https://give.robinhood.org/give/61654/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=YT.

LEARN MORE

https://www.robinhood.org/

https://www.facebook.com/robinhood/

https://www.instagram.com/robinhoodnyc/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/robin-hood/

https://twitter.com/robinhoodnyc/

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For people experiencing homelessness in New York City, getting a housing voucher like CityFHEPS should be the golden ticket to securing a permanent home. But often, that ticket leads to a dead end. The demand for affordable housing far outpaces supply, and even when apartments are available, families face overwhelming barriers—complex requirements, complicated processes, and landlords reluctant to accept vouchers.

Enter Anthos|Home, a Robin Hood nonprofit community partner who is disrupting the status quo. In just two years, they’ve helped nearly 500 households get on the express track to move into a permanent home—and they’re just getting started. Anthos|Home isn’t waiting for systemic change; they’re making change happen. By partnering with landlords, streamlining the voucher process, and providing ongoing support to both tenants and property owners, they’re proving that housing vouchers can—and should—work.

In this episode, hosts Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper sit down with Laura Lazarus, CEO and Co-Founder of Anthos|Home, to unpack how her team is cutting through red tape, tackling the housing crisis head-on, and reshaping what’s possible for families with vouchers.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

Support Robin Hood’s work to elevate New Yorkers out of poverty at https://give.robinhood.org/give/61654/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=YT.

LEARN MORE

https://www.robinhood.org/

https://www.facebook.com/robinhood/

https://www.instagram.com/robinhoodnyc/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/robin-hood/

https://twitter.com/robinhoodnyc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to "This Robin Hood Moment" with your hosts Crystal Cooper and Kevin Thompson. What does it really cost to raise a child in NYC? In this episode, with special guest Reshma Saujani—Founder and CEO of Moms First, Founder of Girls Who Code and bestselling author of Brave, Not Perfect"—we explore why current benefits fall short in covering the needs of families, especially in a city with such a high cost of living. We discuss the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council's proposals to raise the CTC to $2,000 for younger children and how these changes could make a profound difference in reducing the financial burden on families, providing them a chance to thrive rather than just survive.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts, and you can find Robin Hood on X/Twitter @robinhoodnyc.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

“This Robin Hood Moment” is hosted by Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper. The show is produced and edited by Cory Winter, with graphic design by Mary Power. Additional motion graphics and footage are provided by Motion Array. Our theme music is from Epidemic Sound.

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Welcome to "This Robin Hood Moment" with your hosts Crystal Cooper and Kevin Thompson. Stable housing is not just a roof over a child’s head—it’s a critical factor for healthy physical, emotional, and cognitive development. In this episode, with guest Christine Quinn, President & Chief Executive Officer of Win, we examine an aspect of homelessness in New York City that’s rarely discussed: family homelessness, wherein thousands of children are facing housing insecurity.

We explore how homelessness disrupts schooling, increases health risks, and affects behavioral outcomes in children, and why ensuring stable housing is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty. With Christine, we discuss one of the latest policy proposals from the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, including expanding Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVP) to low-income families, and how these interventions can create a foundation for healthier, more stable lives.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts, and you can find Robin Hood on X/Twitter @robinhoodnyc.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

“This Robin Hood Moment” is hosted by Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper. The show is produced and edited by Cory Winter, with graphic design by Mary Power. Additional motion graphics and footage are provided by Motion Array. Our theme music is from Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to "This Robin Hood Moment" with your hosts Crystal Cooper and Kevin Thompson. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the groundbreaking work of the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC), established under the Child Poverty Reduction Act signed into law in December 2021. This initiative sets a bold goal of reducing child poverty in New York State by 50% by 2031. We explore how this legislation came to be and the role it plays in shaping policies aimed at lifting children out of poverty.

Our featured guest, Kate Breslin, President & CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy (SCAA), played a pivotal role in bringing this landmark legislation to fruition. Under Kate’s leadership, SCAA led the charge in advocating for the Child Poverty Reduction Act. She joins us to discuss the council’s work, upcoming recommendations, and the potential policy changes that could reshape the lives of New York’s most vulnerable families. We also touch on the ongoing process of drafting and refining the Council’s recommendations, leading up to the final vote scheduled for December 18, 2024, and what’s next for the fight against child poverty.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts, and you can find Robin Hood on X/Twitter @robinhoodnyc.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

“This Robin Hood Moment” is hosted by Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper. The show is produced and edited by Cory Winter, with graphic design by Mary Power. Additional motion graphics and footage are provided by Motion Array. Our theme music is from Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to "This Robin Hood Moment" with your hosts Crystal Cooper and Kevin Thompson. In advance of Thanksgiving each year, Robin Hood collaborates with Columbia University to produce an annual snapshot of food hardship and assistance among New Yorkers. New York City has a robust network of food providers, including pantries, aimed to make access to food easier for those struggling to feed themselves and/or their families. Despite the distribution of more than 230 million pounds of food to emergency food providers, food insecurity remains persistent and pervasive in New York City.

Join us as we meet with Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest, as she paints a picture of how the profile of food pantry users has changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, and how 2-in-3 pantry users are not who you think they are.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts, and you can find Robin Hood on X/Twitter @robinhoodnyc.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

“This Robin Hood Moment” is hosted by Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper. The show is produced and edited by Cory Winter, with graphic design by Mary Power. Additional motion graphics and footage are provided by Motion Array. Our theme music is from Epidemic Sound.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to "This Robin Hood Moment" with your hosts Crystal Cooper and Kevin Thompson. In this episode, we delve into the unveiling of the newest affordable housing development in Inwood, what Robin Hood affectionately calls “New Stories,” showcasing the city's potential to create beautiful, affordable homes in innovative spaces. The spotlight falls on the Eliza Apartments, providing 174 affordable units, alongside amenities and green spaces, as part of the redevelopment of the Inwood Library. With guests David Saltzman, founder, board member, and former Executive Director of Robin Hood; Bea De la Torre, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Trinity Church Wall Street; Tony Marx, President & CEO, New York Public Library; Vicki Been, Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, and former commissioner, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, this transformative project not only addresses housing needs but also enhances community infrastructure, reflecting a vision for inclusive urban development.

In 2023, Robin Hood funded partners that built and preserved nearly 1,700 units of affordable housing and prevented evictions for more than 3,100 families. But with a staggering 70,000 applicants for just 174 spots at the Eliza Apartments, it's clear that the demand far outweighs the supply. In this episode, we explore the urgent need to replicate this model across New York City, utilizing underutilized land, such as certain library branches, for affordable housing.

With hosts Kevin Thompson and Crystal Cooper, we explore the vital role philanthropy had in unlocking New Stories, and why this model needs to be replicated across NYC.

Tune in for insightful discussions on shaping policies to uplift communities and #FightPoverty. Subscribe for more episodes wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can find transcripts and more episodes of "This Robin Hood Moment" at robinhood.org/podcasts, and you can find Robin Hood on X/Twitter @robinhoodnyc.

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at info@robinhood.org.

"This Robin Hood Moment" is produced and edited by Cory Winter; graphics are produced by Mary Power; visual content captured by Olivia Waldron and additionally provided by Motion Array; fact-checking by Chloe Sarnoff; music and sound are provided by Epidemic Sound. Special thanks to Susan Sack, Emary Aronson, and especially our donors—the Rosenblatts—Sam, Sarah, and Jill.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.