Approximately one-third of Bronx residents are currently living below the poverty line and this year alone, POTS will help close to 40,000 people, including 12,000 children, with a multitude of needs.
POTS’ services address the varying issues and complexities that accompany poverty by helping clients find stability across areas such as financial wellbeing, health, education, housing and day-to-day needs. By providing comprehensive and personalized support to our clients, we are able to address their unique circumstances and help navigate a pathway forward.
In 2020, POTS maintained its commitment to addressing the emergent needs of the community and providing consistent services to clients in need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2025:
Meals
Provided through lunch service and pantry.
LOW-INCOME
NEW YORKERS
served
in economic
value to the
community
Our Impact in 2025:
POTS continues to meet urgency with action in a borough where nearly one in four residents lives below the poverty line.
In 2025, POTS served 36,600 low-income New Yorkers — including 11,690 children.
Every number below represents a person who walked through our doors seeking stability and found a loving community ready to respond.
- +2,800,000 meals distributed to +24,000 individuals through our renovated, supermarket-style, self-select pantry
- Nearly 5,500 unique individuals served in our Dining Room
- Nearly 290,000 hot meals served with dignity and hospitality
- +5,500 showers provided to nearly 600 individuals
- 3,000 haircuts provided to nearly 1,000 individuals
- 26 clients enrolled in detox and/or rehabilitation programs
- +3,000 households secured nearly $17 million in public benefits
- 396 individuals achieved personal goals set with mentors, including +100 jobs secured, generating a combined expected income of +$2,700,000
- +1,200 households served with housing-related legal challenges, including +400 evictions prevented
- +100 clients participated in our English language programs.
POTS is committed to scaling up its success model, based on our Stability Index to break the cycle of poverty for even more families and individuals each year.
- POTS’ Emergency Food Programs provided 2,301,307 total meals to over 12,000 households in 2020, more than doubling what was distributed in 2019.
- Through POTS’ Day to Day Services, 1,100 people were helped by the mail facilities and the shower program was re-introduced in October, 2020 after a temporary suspension due to the pandemic.
- POTS’ Legal Clinic prevented 180 evictions despite extended eviction moratoria which slowed the evictions process and pandemic-restricted ability to conduct legal services.
- POTS’ general case management team helped over 14,000 clients access more than $7,000,000 in public benefits, such as SNAP benefits and public assistance.
- While unemployment rates skyrocketed, POTS helped to place 41 people in full and part-time employment during the pandemic and continues to help clients with long-term goals around employment. Additionally, the Workforce Development team conducted 219 client assessments and connected 90 people to employment training.
- POTS’ social services coordinator has assisted 60 clients seeking mental health support, including placing 8 formerly homeless, mentally-ill clients in supportive housing.
- POTS’ Next Step Services team distributed over $400,000 in direct emergency assistance to over 600 households who have found themselves in danger of eviction, electrical turnoff, facing lost employment, without Unemployment Insurance benefits, lacking the resources for remote schooling, or otherwise in financial need.
- POTS distributed more than 90,000 masks and 17,000 hand sanitizers to clients who could not afford to purchase hygiene and sanitation products for themselves.