First Rewards Given for ‘Good Behavior’
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Families participating in Mayor Bloomberg’s Opportunity NYC program, which offers cash incentives for “good behavior” such as consistent school attendance or purchasing health insurance, have received their first payments, totaling $740,000.
Mr. Bloomberg announced yesterday that 1,431 families participating in the privately funded pilot program had received an average of $524.
“We are hopeful that the experiences gained through the program will help more families climb out of poverty and become self-sufficient, and we will be rigorously evaluating all aspects of the program as we move forward.” Mr. Bloomberg said in a statement.
The program, which is based on anti-poverty plans in countries such as Mexico and Brazil, currently is funded entirely by $50 million in private donations, including at least $2 million from Mr. Bloomberg himself.
A total of 4,700 families are enrolled in Opportunity NYC, half of whom are eligible to receive financial rewards for their participation.
The program is scheduled to run for two to three years, and the mayor has neither pledged nor ruled out using city funds to sponsor a new program if the pilot is deemed a success.
Critics say the program could have unintended consequences, creating an expectation among poor families that they should undertake good behavior only if there is a direct financial reward instead of for its own sake.
