Summer youth programs are slated to be partly restored

Camps and jobs for more than 100,000 city youth could return this summer through a budget agreement set for a vote Tuesday evening, city officials said.

The agreement would restore to the city budget $115 million for summer youth programs, including summer jobs, internships and classes for 35,000 young people and city-funded summer camps for an additional 81,000, Mayor de Blasio (inset) and city lawmakers announced Tuesday.

That may be well short of the need, say activists.

Last year, the Summer Youth Employment Program gave jobs to 75,000 city people between 14 and 24 years old, and cityfunded summer camps served 100,000 youngsters.

De Blasio’s proposal in his initial executive budget in April axed both programs entirely. The programs were brought back to life in the final budget produced by the Council.

“We are proud of the work we did to save the types of programs and initiatives we need to rebuild post-COVID, including the Summer Youth Employment Program,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan).

Big questions remain about what the revamped summer programs would look like — and how quickly providers will be able to get the programs up and running.

Many nonprofits that contract with the city to run youth programs have already laid off and furloughed staff, said Nora Moran, policy and advocacy director for United Neighborhood Houses, which represents youth program providers.

“Providers are heartened by this and hoping this means they’ll be able to bring staff back,” said Moran.

But “it’s definitely going to be impossible to start programs by the normal [start] date” of July 6, she added.