“By engaging the broader community, we made sure the program was informed by the needs of the community and the data of Baltimore's reality.”
—Joe Jones, Center for Urban Families
A Snapshot about CASH Campaign of Maryland
Report Publish Date: September 1, 2025
This issue brief is part of a larger study on family-serving organizations or direct service organizations participating in policy and systems change work.
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) is a network of mayors advocating for, as CASH describes, “recurring, unconditional cash payments to a targeted group of people.” GI “creates a “floor” of basic income to close the gap created by low wages.” Former Stockton, CA, Mayor Michael Tubbs launched MGI to support local pilot programs and build buy-in at the federal level for a GI program through program evaluation and advocacy. Initial pilots were funded philanthropically, but the federal government began to show an interest in providing GI funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2020, and Saint Paul, MN, became the first GI pilot to use ARPA funding. After learning more about GI pilots from Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott signed on to MGI and announced the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF) pilot in 2021.
The City of Baltimore, CASH Campaign of Maryland, and partners envisioned an opportunity to create a more resilient economy and financial stability for families in Baltimore City. They also hoped that by implementing a pilot program, they would gather insights to contribute to a revolution in guaranteed income across the nation.
The Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF) aimed to combat the economic fallout from COVID-19 by providing payments to young parents who were hit hardest by the crisis. Building off the success of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)–which is a lump sum, unrestricted payment–and riding on the wave of the recently passed Advanced Child Tax Credit, CASH and partners wanted to apply these learnings to other programs, like the BYFSF, in addition to focusing on a north star of a GI federal policy.
“By engaging the broader community, we made sure the program was informed by the needs of the community and the data of Baltimore's reality.”
—Joe Jones, Center for Urban Families
“It changed my life, it definitely helped me to be able to manage my money better and save better. It helped me know what it feels like to have extra money and know how to save the money.”
—Ariana Wilkins, program participant
They planned to take the learnings from the pilot and apply them to other cash-related programs to make the case that people need more flexibility.
$359,833
Awarded on: 08/18/2023
Timeframe: 2023-2025
Grant number: 81016
Location: Washington, DC
Center for Evaluation Innovation, Inc. Washington, DC 20036
https://www.evaluationinnovation.orgThe effects of redlining and residential segregation in Baltimore are still felt in the city today and show up in inequalities which have disproportionately impacted low-income families. A lack of investment in communities has resulted in poor outcomes in education and maternal and child health, and persistent poverty continues to be a challenge. The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this and disproportionately impacted young families: schools and daycares closed, their childcare options decreased, and many experienced unemployment and housing or food insecurity. Initiated by the Mayor of Baltimore, CASH Campaign of Maryland and other partners tested out setting a floor of basic income for residents through a guaranteed income (GI) pilot that “provides resilience, promotes self-determination, and preserves dignity.” This issue brief is part of a larger study on family-serving organizations or direct service organizations participating in policy and systems change work.
This study and report was conducted and created by the following people.
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