Additional Coverage:
- Georgia gave low-income Black women $20,000 over 2 years. A participant said the money helped her afford day care and pay bills. (newsbreak.com)
In Atlanta, a groundbreaking basic income initiative has been providing low-income Black women with $850 each month without any conditions attached to how the money is used. Spearheaded by The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund and GiveDirectly, this pilot program, dubbed In Her Hands, aimed to support 650 women by offering them financial aid totaling $20,400 across two years. Among the beneficiaries is 31-year-old Shamarra Woods, a single mother who has utilized the funds for essential expenses like rent and daycare for her daughter.
Woods, along with other participants, has experienced significant financial relief, allowing for the purchase of necessities for her child, from clothing to formula. Her involvement in the In Her Hands program has not only facilitated her ability to cover daycare costs as her daughter grew but also enabled her to advance in her career by maintaining reliable childcare. Originating in 2022, the initiative targeted women living under 200% of the federal poverty line and dispersed payments in two structures to address immediate and ongoing financial needs.
Despite the positive outcomes, Woods and others like her face uncertainty as the program concluded, stirring concerns about sustaining their improved livelihoods without the additional income. Georgia’s experiment is part of a larger movement across the United States exploring basic income as a tool for economic empowerment and poverty alleviation, with over 100 pilots launched to date.
Initial findings from the initiative have highlighted enhanced financial stability among participants, showcasing reduced difficulties in meeting bill payments, accessing healthcare, and lessening mental health challenges. Further, the program has positively impacted housing security, access to education, and allowed for increased savings for children’s futures.
While the long-term effects of the program remain to be seen and the initiative faces both skepticism and legislative challenges, the positive short-term impacts underscore the potential of guaranteed basic income as a transformative policy. The future of such programs in Georgia looks promising, with plans for expansion and new pilots aimed at addressing poverty from infancy onwards. Shamarra Woods, reflecting on her experience, emphasizes the importance of such support for building a better future for her daughter and other families in need.