Youth Employment Program Seeks Increased Funding

 The Summer Youth Employment Program gives young New Yorkers job oppurtunites every summer. The problem? The program is oversubscribed. There are only 55,000 slots, and almost double that in applicants. That reduces admission to a lottery system. Councilmember Jumaane Williams cited studies showing how important these jobs can be to young kids.

Williams adds, "Youth who get lotteried in to particpate were more likely to be alive in 2014, and less likely to be incarcerated in the New York State prison system."

A group of councilmembers and community advocates want more city funds to guarantee every applicant a job. Councilmember Antonio Reynoso says such programs keep kids off the streets.

"Giving somebody a job is the way that we start taking care of crime, not necessarily overenforcement," Reynoso said.

Supporters hope that with more funding, the summer program can evolve into year-round positions.