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Drawing on interviews and outcomes from organizations providing support, the report links wraparound services to improved graduation and completion rates and lays out eight actionable recommendations for NYC leaders.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/","Research & Report",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/the-high-cost-of-free-job-training-in-nyc-executive-summary/583169/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/the-high-cost-of-free-job-training-in-nyc-executive-summary/583169.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"\tJames","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",5,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Why are “free” job training programs often still unaffordable in NYC?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The report explains that everyday costs outside the classroom—such as childcare, subway fares, and groceries—can prevent participants from completing multi-month training programs.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What are “wraparound supports” and how do they affect outcomes?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Wraparound supports include assistance like childcare, transportation help, and other affordability-related resources. 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Researched and written by Melissa Lent and Eli Dvorkin. Edited by Dorian Block and Jonathan Bowles. Additional research by Udonne Eke-Okoro, Matthew Garcia, Carmela Guaglianone, and Sajina Shrestha. Designed by Stislow Design.  \nCenter for an Urban Future (CUF) is a leading New York City-based think tank that generates smart and sustainable public policies to reduce inequality, increase economic mobility, and grow the economy.  \nThis report was made possible thanks to  \nNYC Workforce Funders. General operating support for the Center for an Urban Future has been provided by The Clark Foundation and the Altman Foundation.  \nSpecial thanks to the Workforce Professionals Training Institute and New York City Employment and Training Coalition for their partnership in developing this report.  \nEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jonathan Bowles  \nEDITORIAL & POLICY DIRECTOR Eli Dvorkin  \nCHIEF OF STAFF Stephanie Arevalo  \nSENIOR EDITOR Dorian Block  \nSENIOR DATA & POLICY RESEARCHER Rachel Neches  \nRESEARCH AND OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE Sophia Tumolo  \nSENIOR FELLOW FOR CLIMATE & OPPORTUNITY John Surico  \nBOARD OF DIRECTORS Gifford Miller (Chairman)  \nMargaret Anadu Jonathan Bowles Rafael E. Cestero Russell Dubner Garnesha Ezediaro Susan Fine  \nKyle Kimball Katy Knight Jessie Lazarus David Lebenstein Eric S. Lee  \nJosh Moskowitz Monisha Nariani Max Neukirchen Andrew Reicher Peter Schubert John Siegal Thomas Vecchione Sherry Wang Kate Wittels  \nTable of Contents  \nThe High Cost of Free Job Training in NYC Expanding childcare, transit assistance, and stipendsto ensure workforce training works for all New Yorkers  \nIntroduction ...................................................... 1  \nWraparound Services Lead to Improvements in Program Outcomes ......... 2  \nWraparound Supports That Are Needed Most............................ 4  \nObstacles to Wraparound Services Facing Workforce Providers ............ 8  \nRecommendations: 8 Ideas to Strengthen NYC’s Workforce Development Programs by Expanding Access to Wraparound Services ................ 13  \nTHE HIGH COST OF FREE JOB TRAINING IN NYC  \nIntroduction  \nTO CONFRONT NEW YORK CITY'S AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, SOME LEADERS HAVE CALLED FOR MAJOR NEW public benefits, from universal childcare to free buses. But with the city and state facing a highly challenging fiscal environment—made worse by funding cuts and policy changes in Washington—it's far from clear that city officials will be able to fully fund these big-ticket ideas in the near term.  \nFortunately, there is an interim step city leaders can take to address critical affordability challenges. They should provide these supports where they can have the greatest impact: to New Yorkers seeking upward economic mobility through evidence-based career training programs. More specifically, the next mayor should start on a path to universal child care by making child care free for those enrolled in training programs, and provide free OMNY cards to training participants and students studying at CUNY.  \nTaking these initial steps toward free childcare and transit isn't just more financially feasible as the city and state face fiscal headwinds. Data shows that “wraparound supports” are essential to help low-income New Yorkers complete free job training programs, which many otherwise drop out of due to costs outside the classroom—like child care, transit fares, and other affordability challenges.  \nIndeed, as this report documents, the everyday costs of childcare, subway rides, and groceries make even“free” programs out of reach. As a result, working parents and caregivers in particular end up trapped in lowwage work, unable to afford stepping out of the workforce to complete a multi-month training program—even ","cbCaiegKyB0Oh724","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiegKyB0Oh724","pdf",323150,"English","# Introduction\n## Wraparound Services Lead to Improvements in Program Outcomes\n## Wraparound Supports That Are Needed Most\n## Obstacles to Wraparound Services Facing Workforce Providers\n## Recommendations: 8 Ideas to Strengthen NYC’s Workforce Development Programs by Expanding Access to Wraparound Services","[{\"question\":\"Why are “free” job training programs often still unaffordable in NYC?\",\"answer\":\"The report explains that everyday costs outside the classroom—such as childcare, subway fares, and groceries—can prevent participants from completing multi-month training programs.\"},{\"question\":\"What are “wraparound supports” and how do they affect outcomes?\",\"answer\":\"Wraparound supports include assistance like childcare, transportation help, and other affordability-related resources. The report states that when these supports are provided, outcomes like graduation and completion improve.\"},{\"question\":\"What actions does the report recommend for NYC leaders?\",\"answer\":\"The report recommends launching or piloting programs that provide free childcare and OMNY cards to training participants, alongside eight additional ideas to address hidden costs that derail completion.\"}]","The High Cost of Free Job Training in NYC - Executive Summary | PDF",1792046078]