July 21, 2017

The City announced today that it is expanding NYCitizenship, a public-private partnership that is helping the 650,000 eligible New Yorkers who are not yet citizens to apply for citizenship. NYCitizenship, which the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) helps to fund and support, will now be located in library branches in all five boroughs. It will also start conducting outreach targeted to senior New Yorkers.

With $675,000 in new funds from NYC Opportunity, and total funding of $1.6 million, NYCitizenship is greatly increasing its staff, and aiming to nearly double the number of people it represents in citizenship applications this year.

Citizenship is a win-win for cities and immigrant communities. When people become citizens they, on average, earn more, are more civically engaged, are employed at a higher rate, and are more likely to own a home. They also pay more in taxes.

Read more about NYCitizenship’s expansion.
Read the remarks of NYC Opportunity executive director Matt Klein.