This month, 32 Columbus mothers will begin receiving $500 per month for one year as part of Ohio Mothers Trust, the first guaranteed income pilot in Central Ohio. Spearheaded by Motherful, RISE Together Innovation Institute, and UpTogether, this initiative reflects a growing movement to invest directly in families as a pathway to more stability and a better life.
The pilot’s focus is clear: when we trust mothers with resources, they make choices that are best for them and their families. Ohio Mothers Trust draws on a growing body of evidence that a little extra cash each month can make a real difference in people’s lives.
For example, after one year of giving 200 low-income households $500 a month in unrestricted funds in Minneapolis, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis outlined how the program “is creating measurable improvements in people’s lives.” Compared to residents in a control group who did not receive the monthly cash, the residents who received $500 a month experienced less stress, more financial stability, less hunger, and more housing stability. A similar initiative in Jackson, Mississippi also demonstrated meaningful results: the percentage of participants who could pay all their bills jumped from 37% to 80% after one year. These pilots address immediate financial stress and empower families to plan for the future, build savings, and achieve greater security.
We hope to demonstrate similar results from Ohio Mothers Trust. We aim to show that providing unconditional cash support to mothers can boost their financial stability and overall well-being. UpTogether and The Ohio State University will conduct surveys and interviews with program participants to learn more about the impact of the additional income on mothers’ ability to afford basic necessities each month, on their stress levels and emotional well-being, and what it means for their children.
Far too many families in Franklin County struggle to afford all the essentials, such as food, housing, healthcare, childcare, and transportation. Families have seen the cost of nearly everything rise, and wages aren’t keeping pace. A growing body of research shows that one of the easiest ways to promote economic security is to improve incomes for residents. This pilot will do just that.
RISE Together is proud to co-lead this initiative as a step toward our vision of a Franklin County where all residents have resources and opportunities they need to thrive. By demonstrating the transformative potential of direct cash investments, Ohio Mothers Trust can set a precedent for bold solutions to disrupt poverty and improve lives across Central Ohio.
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