When Safety Nets Fall Short, You Help Young New Yorkers Stand Strong
Even in the best of times, young people who have grown up in foster care face steep financial hurdles. Rising rents, transportation costs, and inflation mean that many are one unexpected bill away from crisis.
For youth without family to fall back on, even a $50 gap can mean going hungry, skipping college, or missing work.
New Yorkers For Children’s Emergency Grants fill that gap, offering flexible cash assistance that helps youth stay fed, housed, and focused on their goals.
NYFC Emergency Grants
Small, timely cash assistance, usually $300 to $800, prevents eviction, covers groceries, and keeps young New Yorkers on track. That’s the power of fast, flexible emergency funding for youth in foster care.
- 67% of recipients said that their NYFC Emergency Grant fully resolved their crisis.
- 61% reported that their financial situation post-emergency grant was more or much more stable.
- 86% told us that their financial situation had either remained stable or improved.
Real Stories from NYC Youth
“When the payment reached my account, my landlord handed me the keys that same day. Suddenly, my kid and I weren’t homeless.”
— Selina, Emergency Grant Recipient
“I was trying to stretch what I had to buy food for my kids. NYFC’s help came through right when we needed it.”
— Tanganika, Emergency Grant Recipient
Every dollar helps youth like Selina and Tanganika overcome barriers and build stability.
Why Give Now
Even as public programs return to normal following the government shutdown, young people who have aged out of foster care continue to face uncertainty. Delays in benefits, rising prices, and unexpected bills can undo months of hard work toward independence.
NYFC’s Emergency Grants ensure that when the next challenge comes, whether it’s a missed paycheck or an unexpected medical bill, young New Yorkers don’t have to face it alone.
Your donation helps make possible unrestricted, flexible cash assistance, which has been proven to be the fastest, most effective way to keep youth safe, stable, and focused on their future.
How Your Gift Can Help
$25 or any amount: could help us reach more young people impacted by the child welfare system - empowering them to flourish in college, gain vocational skills, and thrive as independent adults.
$50: Could provide hygiene essentials for a young person in NYC's foster care system for a few days, helping them stay healthy and focused on school or work.
$100: Could provide groceries and essentials for a young person for a week, helping them stay nourished and focused on school or work.
$250: Could prevent eviction or a utility shut-off for a young adult transitioning from foster care, keeping their housing stable while pursue education or employment.
$500: Could fund an entire Emergency Grant, providing fast, flexible cash assistance that can help resolve a crisis for a young person aging out of the city's foster care system.
$1,000: Could help a young person avoid a major setback by covering urgent costs like bank rent after a missed paycheck, a security deposit to prevent homelessness, or emergency expenses that would otherwise force them to leave school or work.
$2,500: Could fund up to five Emergency Grants, giving several young people aging out foster care immediate relief when they are facing food insecurity, housing instability, or unexpected bills.
Help Young New Yorkers Thrive, Not Just Survive
Emergency Grants don’t just solve short-term crises. They build long-term independence and hope.
Join a community of New Yorkers who believe in their potential of our youth, and who help make that potential possible.