Lisbon Black, 76, lives on $1,200 a month in Social Security and typically has about $255 left after rent and spousal support. He supplements his income with occasional work but relies on the Broadway Community soup kitchen and weekly pantry to get by. Decades of Section 8 applications have not yielded stable housing, and he worries that earning more could cost him vital benefits. Despite hardships, he refuses to leave New York because of its transit and community supports.
76-Year-Old New Yorker Survives on $1,200 a Month, Eats at Soup Kitchen — Refuses to Leave NYC
Lisbon Black at the Broadway Community soup kitchen, after their lunch service.José A. Alvarado Jr. for BI
Lisbon Black divides people into two groups: the haves and the have-nots. At 76, he counts himself among the have-nots — but he also insists on staying in New York City.
Daily Reality: Money Shapes Every Choice
Black's only steady income is $1,200 a month from Social Security. After rent and spousal support, he typically has about $255 left to cover all other expenses, forcing him to make daily trade-offs between food, laundry and medicine. To stretch his budget, he takes irregular work when he can — from desk duties at the US Open to assisting at the Alliance for Positive Change, a nonprofit serving New Yorkers with chronic illnesses.
Black has lived in New York City for nearly his entire life but still struggles to afford basic necessities. "It doesn't have to be the most expensive thing, but if I have a need for a T-shirt, I want to be able to buy a T-shirt," he said.José A. Alvarado Jr. for BI
“When I applied for my Social Security, I said, 'Things are gonna be a little better.' It got worse,”
Work, Age, and the Benefits Paradox
Although Black has extensive experience in human services after studying social work at Loyola University Chicago, age and health now limit the kinds of jobs he can physically do. He also faces the common paradox for lower-income Americans: earning more could disqualify him from essential supports such as Medicaid and SNAP, leaving him worse off overall.
Community Support Keeps Him Afloat
Black relies on the Broadway Community soup kitchen and food pantry in Morningside Heights — an agency supported by United Way of New York City. He eats there three times a week and uses the pantry on Thursdays. What matters most to him is not just the food, but the dignity: “They don't look down upon you, they don't judge, they accept you with open arms,” he said.
The entrance to the Broadway Community soup kitchen, which serves breakfast and lunch every weekday except Thursday.José A. Alvarado Jr. for BI
Housing Struggles
Since 2005 Black has repeatedly applied for affordable city housing and Section 8 assistance without success. He currently rents a private room in a three-bedroom Manhattan apartment and questions who current "affordable" housing is truly affordable for: studios listed at $1,500–$2,000 are out of reach for someone on his budget.
Policy and Perspective
The article notes a city report finding that roughly 62% of New Yorkers struggle with the cost of living. Recent policy moves mentioned include Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Block by Block strategy to build and preserve affordable units and a controversial temporary rent freeze affecting many rent-stabilized leases. Black is skeptical about some proposals but appreciates efforts to address housing and transit.
"The thing about New York is that the city provides you with everything you need," Black said.José A. Alvarado Jr. for BI
Despite the financial strain, Black says he would not leave. He values New York’s public transit and the community supports that make daily life possible: “As crazy as New York is, it's the best place to live.”
Byline: Interview and reporting by Business Insider; photos by José A. Alvarado Jr.
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