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NYC leaders pledge $3.4 million to save community service jobs lost in Trump cuts
By
Karen Yi
Published Sep 10, 2025
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Spencer T Tucker / NYC Mayor's Office Flickr
By
Karen Yi
Published Sep 10, 2025
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City leaders have stepped in to replace federal funding for an AmeriCorps program that pays New Yorkers to work in community service after nationwide cuts by the Trump administration.
To make up for the lost funds, the Adams administration said this week it would use $3.2 million in city funds and state grant money to hire 150 people in the NYC Civic Corps program and place them across 80 nonprofits and city agencies. The corps members will help support the city’s social safety net at a time when New Yorkers are facing high levels of housing and food insecurity amid rising poverty rates. The 10-month program offers a small living allowance, professional development training and a $5,000 education award to use toward student loans or higher education.
”This is a very easy step to take action and to contribute back locally and really feel that you're able to make a difference in the community around you,” said Laura Rog, the city’s chief service officer.
The announcement comes as young people face the highest unemployment rates among workers. A report by the state comptroller's office found a 13% unemployment rate among New Yorkers between 16-25, higher than pre-pandemic and higher than the national youth unemployment rate. NYC Civic Corps is open to anyone 18 years or older but many members are recent college graduates or career changers. About a third of corps members are later hired by the nonprofit or agency they worked with, the city said. Another third use their education stipend to get a master’s degree or finish their undergraduate degrees.
Civic Corps started in 2009, and more than 2,200 members have finished the program. Those who apply can be placed at city agencies such as the Department of Homeless Services or at nonprofits like Children of Promise working with kids whose parents were formerly incarcerated. Applicants can select their areas of interest such as public health, youth development or environmental sustainability.
”Members learn about the infrastructure of the city, how much work goes on behind the scenes to support the 8.5 million New Yorkers that we're serving every day,” Rog said. “They see the ins and outs of the system, how to improve the systems, and they also get to contribute to making the systems better for everyone.”
Civic Corps members receive a MetroCard, a stipend of $24,500, free training, Citi Bike membership, student loan forbearance during the length of the program and a $5,176 education award at the completion of service. Applications are available online and close Sept. 28.
The 35-hour a week program starts in October and runs through July.
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economy
new york city
Karen Yi
Karen Yi covers homelessness and poverty. She joined the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom in 2020. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent almost a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-589-1460.
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