San Francisco Mayor London Breed has announced a first-of-its-kind basic income pilot program for pregnant women of color.
The Abundant Birth Project was developed in partnership with Expecting Justice. It will provide a monthly payment of $1,000 to approximately 150 Black and Pacific Islander women who are expecting. The money will be distributed during their pregnancy and into the sixth month postpartum.
"Providing guaranteed income support to mothers during pregnancy is an innovative and equitable approach that will ease some of the financial stress that all too often keeps women from being able to put their health first," said Mayor Breed. "The Abundant Birth Project is rooted in racial justice and recognizes that Black and Pacific Islander mothers suffer disparate health impacts, in part because of the persistent wealth and income gap. Thanks to the work of the many partners involved, we are taking real action to end these disparities and are empowering mothers with the resources they need to have healthy pregnancies and births."
The Abundant Birth Project is a fully funded public-private partnership. Funders include the Hellman Foundation, Greentech, the California Preterm Birth Initiative at UCSF, WKKF (Kellogg Foundation), San Francisco Health Plan, Tipping Point, the Economic Security Project, Walter and Elise Haas, the San Francisco Foundation, the Friedman Family Foundation, Jack Dorsey's #startsmall campaign, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health.