White Plains, New York

Located about 25 miles from New York City and founded in 1683, White Plains has been the seat of Westchester County since 1757.

Over the past 50 years, White Plains has undergone several urban renewal efforts to increase commercial activity and attract new residents. White Plains, like Westchester County, is a relatively prosperous and well-educated community. The median household income is almost $82,000—approximately $23,000 higher than that of New York State, and unemployment, at nearly 7%, is lower than both Westchester County (8%) and the state (nearly 9%). Almost half of all residents ages 25 or older have a four-year college degree, and almost one-quarter have graduate or professional degrees.

In recent decades, the city has experienced an influx of Hispanic individuals in search of economic opportunities or suburban living. the changing demographics have revealed stark gaps in income, educational attainment, and average age at death between white residents and the city’s Black and Hispanic populations. In response, local nonprofit organizations have provided tailored social services to White Plains’ Hispanic residents, while city government has focused on urban revitalization projects, notably the rebuilding of affordable housing developments, including set-asides for affordable housing in downtown residential developments.

Overview

Population and Demographics

Population: 57,500

SOURCES:
U.S. Census Bureau (2014). 2010–2014 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.

Context and Actions

Community Context and Challenges

Children enrolled in White Plains public schools have higher obesity rates (19%) than children enrolled in Westchester County public schools (14%) or all public school children from New York State (17%).
Average age at death for White Plains residents is 77 years; life expectancy for white residents is 79 years, compared to 73 years for Black and 61 years for Hispanic residents.
White Plains currently has a shortage of affordable housing, and most recent housing development has catered to young professionals and higher-income individuals; residents can encounter years-long waiting lists for affordable housing.
Approximately 42% of White Plains residents pay more than 30 percent of their incomes for rent, an indicator that housing puts a significant strain on household budgets.

SOURCES:
U.S. Census Bureau. (2014).2010–2014 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.

Westchester County Department of Health. (n.d.) Westchester County Community Health Assessment & Improvement Plan.

Taking Action

In addition to urban renewal projects, collaborative efforts across White Plains are focused on promoting economic empowerment and self-sufficiency to improve population health.

Hospitals, nonprofit organizations, civic agencies and others are forming coalitions and partnerships designed to meet the needs of all residents, including the city’s growing Hispanic and foreign-born population.

NOTE:
These baseline reports, created in 2016, reflect our initial observations on select community programs and initiatives to gauge ongoing, as well as newer, efforts to improve community health. Future reports will provide more in-depth insights and analysis into this community's activities.

Hispanic Advisory Board

In response to inequities in health and well-being, several local nonprofit organizations provide White Plains’ Hispanic population with legal representation, education, social services and food aid. The Westchester County government convenes a Hispanic Advisory Board.

White Plains Education and Training Center

The White Plains Education and Training Center—which offers courses in job training for non-native English speakers, money management and home buying—arose out of a cross-sector partnership between White Plains Housing Authority, White Plains Hospital and the nonprofit group Friends of the White Plains Youth Bureau.

New Affordable Housing

White Plains’ new affordable housing is designed to enhance resident health and well-being in several ways. First, the rebuilt housing complex is designed to fit into the surrounding neighborhood, enhancing a sense of community and reducing the stigma associated with living in public housing. Second, all apartments are smoke free. Third, the complex includes a new, conveniently-located White Plains Education and Training Center, opened in spring 2016, which serves not only affordable housing residents of the complex but all local job-seekers.

Developing the Health Care Workforce

White Plains Hospital is involved with efforts at the education and housing center to provide job training, contributing to developing the city's health care workforce.

Going Forward

Questions for Consideration

White Plains’ city government has focused on urban renewal efforts, and nonprofit organizations are working to address the health and well-being of the area’s growing Hispanic community. Additional surveillance, data and information gathering, analysis, and reporting will examine whether these priorities evolve—and how the county government, city government, and nonprofit organizations interact to serve the needs of White Plains residents.

Answers to the following questions could provide insight into the degree to which new and ongoing initiatives are addressing the challenges of a racially and economically diverse community:

What are the key challenges to improved health and well-being for White Plains’ Hispanic population—both native- and foreign-born?
What initiatives has White Plains taken to improve the health and well-being of its residents? To what extent does White Plains’ city government work with the Westchester County Health Department or local nonprofit organizations on local public health challenges?
How do White Plains’ government and the Westchester County Health Department set public health priorities?
What are the health and well-being needs of the large number of native-born children in White Plains who have immigrant parents?
What is the current status of White Plains’ efforts to revitalize its public housing and to improve the availability of affordable housing?
What other health priorities have emerged as significant in White Plains, and to what extent has the community been involved in identifying and addressing them? In addition, to what extent have cross-sector initiatives emerged to address issues related to housing, income, education, and substance abuse prevention?