MILWAUKEE – The Bridge Project has distributed the first round of unconditional cash payments to low-income, pregnant individuals in Milwaukee as part of the city’s first program of its kind, funded by the Zilber Family Foundation. In June, the first cohort of The Bridge Project participants will receive $1,875, inclusive of a one-time prenatal stipend of $1,125 and the first monthly program payment of $750. The Bridge Project aims to empower pregnant individuals through guaranteed income, providing a stable start to life for their children and creating positive lifelong and generational effects.
The disbursement is the first installment of a series of monthly payments that will be distributed throughout the two-year program. Participants will receive $750 monthly for the first 15 months of program participation, followed by $375 monthly payments for the remaining 9 months of the two-year initiative, totalling $15,750 in individual cash assistance.
“This first payment to moms during the final weeks of their pregnancy is essential in shaping the earliest days of a child’s life,” said Gina Stilp, Executive Director of the Zilber Family Foundation. “Things like strollers, cribs, car seats, diapers, baby formula, baby wipes are all essential items pregnant individuals must anticipate having before giving birth to their babies. Empowering moms with cash assistance creates a pathway to economic mobility, reduces stress and builds more stable households. We look forward to seeing the positive impact that immediate financial support has on the lives of our mothers and their babies.”
The positive response to the program’s application opening in April 2023 highlights the urgent need for cash assistance among low- and moderate- income pregnant individuals in Milwaukee neighborhoods. Although the program is currently limited to supporting 100 pregnant individuals, ongoing donor contributions and public support could extend this opportunity to more families, ensuring healthier futures for even more children.
“The key to breaking generational cycles of stress and poverty is taking preventative measures early in a child’s life and ensuring caretaking resources are available,” said Holly Fogle, The Bridge Project co-founder and president. “Unconditional cash provides easier access to child care and the ability to prioritize a child’s well-being. We are excited to see how Milwaukee mothers and babies benefit from this program.”
Applications remain open for The Bridge Project and are reviewed for eligibility on a rolling basis. Eligibility for the program requires participants to be 18 years or older; 23 weeks pregnant or less at time of application; live in 53204, 53205, 53206 or 53215 with priority in Zilber Initiative Neighborhoods of Lindsay Heights, Clarke Square or Layton Boulevard West neighborhoods; and having an annual household income of less than $39,000 USD.
For more information, visit: www.zilberfamilyfoundation.org/thebridgeproject.html
