Mothers in poverty need cash.
That’s Milwaukee Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic’s main takeaway after reviewing the data collected from the first group of 122 mothers who will receive more than $20,250 − no strings attached − during the first three years of their newborn’s life.
Sarah Powless, shown on Nov. 1, 2024, lives on Milwaukee’s south side. She is one of the 122 mothers who is participating in the Bridge Project, a guaranteed income program.
Nationwide, mothers who qualify for the Bridge Project, a guaranteed income program, earn roughly $16,000 annually. In Milwaukee, mothers were making half, or $7,600 per year, according to data collected by the Bridge Project, based in New York City.
Roughly 60% of the mothers were experiencing food insecurity, 17% were living in temporary housing, 94% struggled to afford basic needs, 43% could not cover a $400 emergency expense and 40% reported experiencing pregnancy complications.
“It is a pretty strong look, and a light shining bright on mothers in Milwaukee,” Dimitrijevic said. “It is devastating.”
Mothers receive a one-time, $1,125 prenatal stipend, followed by 15 monthly payments of $750, and then 21 monthly payments of $375.
Since the payments have begun, the mothers are reporting the following results: 62% improved their credit scores and 48% were able to save more than $500.
As a whole, the mothers who experienced food insecurity dropped from 60% to 50%, and housing instability decreased from 17% to 6%, a decrease Steph Silkowski, the Bridge Project’s director of policy and strategic initiatives, described as notable.
Dimitrijevic and Silkowski will share the data at the city’s Finance and Personnel Committee, which Dimitrijevic chairs, at its June 18 meeting.
Dimitrijevic told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she believes the data shows the city’s investment last fall of $350,000 in the program is having real results. She wants the city to consider giving more. When the program launched in April 2024, 880 women applied, meaning hundreds remain in need of assistance.
“I think there is a case to be made for us to continue our investment,” she said. “This is an investment in the root causes of issues like food and housing insecurities. Now we have the data to show it is making a difference.”
The Bridge Project program’s first two years is being funded through $1.6 million from the Zilber Family Foundation and $250,000 from the New York-based Monarch Foundation. The Monarch Foundation created the program on the belief mothers know best what they need to provide for themselves and their families.
Last fall, Dimitrijevic led the effort to allocate $350,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to extend the two-year, guaranteed income program for a third year. Her proposal passed the Milwaukee Common Council with a super majority vote in October.
Now, she is seeking to extend the philanthropic-public partnership to benefit more Milwaukee mothers, she said.
To be eligible, applicants had to be 18 years or older, up to 23 weeks pregnant, have an annual household income of less than $39,000, and live in the 53204, 53205 or 53206 ZIP codes.
Within those three ZIP codes, priority was given to pregnant individuals in the Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square and Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods, where 44% of children are living in poverty, according to the Zilber Foundation.
Lianna Bishop, executive director of the Zilber Family Foundation, said “one year in, the impact is undeniable.”
“By trusting mothers and providing support without conditions, The Bridge Project has empowered families to make decisions that improve their lives,” Bishop said. “This approach is driving greater stability, reducing stress, and opening the door to long-term opportunity.”
Jessica Van Egeren is a general assignment reporter with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at jvanegeren@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When given money, Milwaukee moms finding housing, saving money