$1 in 3 Families Struggling with Poverty: Baltimore Baby Bonus Fund Proposes $7 Million Solution

The Maryland Child Alliance’s Baltimore Baby Bonus Fund proposes a one-time $1,000 cash payment to new parents in Baltimore.

New Initiative Seeks to Support New Parents in Baltimore

A new proposal aims to provide a one-time cash incentive for couples who have a baby in Baltimore. The Maryland Child Alliance’s Baltimore Baby Bonus Fund would give parents up to $1,000 in cash.

The program would be similar to one in Flint, Michigan, which provided financial support to pregnant women and families with newborns. Eligible parents would receive the cash payment regardless of whether the birth is natural or adoptive, according to the report of The US Sun.

READ ALSO: California’s Water Revolution: New Rule To Save $6.2 Billion, Ensure Future Water Security

(photo: ABC News – The Walt Disney Company)

Funding and Impact

The initiative needs 10,000 signatures from registered voters to be put on the 2024 general election ballot. If passed, the program would cost around $7 million annually, which is a small fraction of the city’s budget. The organization emphasizes that it would not raise taxes and would be up to the city council to allocate the funds.

Proponents believe the program would make a significant impact on families struggling with poverty. In Baltimore, one in three kids live in poverty, and this program could help lift families out of poverty and provide a better start for children.

READ ALSO: 14.7 Million Americans Struggle To Make Ends Meet: Rise Of ALICE Highlights Worrying Trend Of Low-Wage Workers!