Baltimore City – MD issued the following announcement on May 2.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott launched applications for the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF), Baltimore’s Guaranteed Income pilot program. Applications opened at 6:00 a.m. today, May 2, 2022, and will close on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. Eligible residents can visit bmorechildren.com/guaranteed-income to apply or find answers to frequently asked questions about the program. Once the application closes on May 9, 2022, eligible applicants will be placed into a randomized lottery to select 200 participants.
The BYFSF will provide 200 young parents, between 18 and 24 years old, with an unconditional cash payment of $1,000 per month over 24 months to provide financial relief for their families and stabilize their households.
“I am proud to announce that applications for the City’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program – the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund – are now open,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “This program will greatly improve financial stability and economic opportunity for residents by putting money directly in the hands of recipients so they can put funds towards the things they need the most. I want to encourage all eligible residents to apply before the deadline closes on May 9.”
Mayor Scott has allocated $4.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that will be directly distributed to recipients. Costs for program administration will be funded through the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success (MOCFS) as well as private and philanthropic donors, including The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Abell Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation, and The Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund.
To be eligible to participate in Baltimore’s Guaranteed Income pilot, applicants must:
be residents of Baltimore City,
between the ages of 18 -24 years old at the time of the application deadline,
be either the biological or adoptive parents, or guardians, must have full or partial care-taking responsibilities and
have income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level based on their household size.
Individuals seeking assistance with applying to the pilot program can visit several partners across the city. A list of locations and contact information can be found at bmorechildren.com/guaranteed-income.
Last year, Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and committed to launching a Guaranteed Income pilot. Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is a national network of mayors who advocate for a Guaranteed Income—direct, recurring cash payments with no strings attached—to lift up all of our communities and create a just country, one city at a time. Joining the network puts Baltimore at the forefront of a national fight for equity.
The COVID-19 public health emergency exposed how fragile, unstable, and inequitable the American economy is. Now more than ever there is an opportunity to create a more resilient economy and improve financial stability for Baltimore City families through a guaranteed income.
During the pandemic, the city partnered with Open Society Institute, Baltimore’s Promise, and a dozen community-based organizations to launch a $6 million COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Program that oversaw the distribution of 15,000 one-time, $400 prepaid cards to eligible households.
“The COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Grant helped my family because before I received it when I went to the store I had to be mindful of what and how much I brought. There were times when I needed things for my home but couldn't afford to get them. This grant eased my mind some.” - Angela Gibbs
“It helped me and my family get things that we normally cannot afford to get, like more toilet paper, paper towels, and just extra food. It was a blessing for me and my family, we thank you all from the bottoms of our hearts.” - Linda Redd
Similarly to this cash transfer program implemented last year, the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund will give participants the flexibility to spend money in the way that best provides for their families’ needs and has been proven to make substantial positive impacts on the lives of those that need it most which is why we’re excited to open applications for BYFSF guaranteed income pilot program.
The Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF) guaranteed income pilot program is a collaboration between the City of Baltimore, the CASH Campaign of Maryland, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), and Steady.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Baltimore City – MD
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