A local initiative is asking for your help finding ways to reduce poverty in Rochester.

The Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative is holding open voting for the public to offer ideas to divide up $200,000 in public money to tackle the issue.

Poverty in Rochester has gone up since the initiative started.

New federal census data shows the city has the third-highest overall poverty rate among the 75 largest metropolitan areas in the country. All the more reason organizers want the public to take part. 

"You can vote all the way up until the end of the month," said Walida Monroe-Sims, Participatory Budget Steering Committee. "It's a county initiative and there are voting sites all over the county. They're at area rec centers, churches, schools, Monroe County Department of Social Services — so all throughout the month of January, people can come in and vote and it starts at age 11, which is real good."

That public voting goes through the 29th.