Baltimore guaranteed income program provides a pathway out of poverty and helps foster long-term financial security
Author: Nicole Rothstein
What would happen if we trusted young parents living in poverty with money that they could spend however they saw fit for their families?
This question inspired the Baltimore Mayor’s Office of Children and Family Success to launch a guaranteed income (GI) pilot project – the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF). The pilot project, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Children and Families Success, was administered by The CASH Campaign of Maryland (CASH), with technical assistance provided by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.
The results of the Baltimore GI program have been remarkable. This is the third in a series of inspirational stories highlighting several of the program participants.
One of the most significant steps toward true financial wellness and generational wealth is owning a home. For many Baltimore residents, however, homeownership feels increasingly unattainable due to financial barriers, economic uncertainty, and other factors.
Before being selected to participate in the Baltimore GI program in 2022, homeownership was a dream Mi’el Barnes wasn’t sure she would achieve. The then-18-year-old was a single mom raising her young daughter on a limited income. At the time, they were living with Mi’el’s mother, who had heard about the program and urged her to apply.
Like many program participants, Mi’el was skeptical and didn’t have high expectations of being selected. Then, in May 2022, she received the acceptance email.
“I thought it was a scam – I really did,” she says. “I emailed them back to see if they were sure it was me who got picked. It sounded too good to be true but it really was true. I was shocked.”
For Mi’el, that email was a turning point in her life as it launched a series of events that would bring her closer to securing the future of her dreams.
A lifeline during economic uncertainty
In 2020, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott joined Mayors for a Guaranteed Income – a coalition of approximately 170 mayors advocating for a federal GI. This move spurred designs for the GI pilot program in Baltimore, tasked with improving economic security for low-income residents in the wake of the pandemic.
After months of strategizing and planning, Baltimore’s GI program – administered by CASH – was underway. Program guidelines required applicants to be between the ages of 18 and 24, raising children within the City of Baltimore, and living at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.
Out of the 7,000 young families who applied, 200 were selected to receive $1,000 monthly for 24 months.
Jordan Holden, Policy Associate at CASH, says that to build trust and empower participants to use program funds however they felt best for their families, there weren’t any restrictions on how the money could be spent.
“Just because you’re low-income doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to have nice things or experience nice things,” she explains. “We weren’t policing how they used the funds, and mainly we saw it going toward necessities, transportation, or for a footing to be able to move out on their own.”
A chance at independence
Mi’el was one of the many Baltimore GI participants who leveraged program funds to establish independence. One of the first steps she took on that journey was to move herself and her daughter into their own apartment.
During the program, Mi’el says she made sure the GI funds were reserved for her rent and utilities. The money she earned from her job at the time supported their extra expenses.
“It was a cushion and gave me some breathing room,” Mi’el explains. “But I didn’t use it as play money. It was important for providing a roof over our heads. I didn’t spend it on myself because that’s how you mess up and I didn’t want to get behind.”
However, as the program neared its ending, Mi’el says her financial situation took a downward turn. In the summer of 2024, she fell behind on her rent payments and she and her daughter moved back in with her mom.
Safety and security in a tiny home
After being evicted from their apartment, Mi’el and her daughter were once again dependent on Mi’el’s mom. However, even though the Baltimore GI program had ended, Mi’el was still able to take advantage of CASH’s housing assistance and other resources to get back on her feet.
CASH organized a housing roundtable in collaboration with Baltimore City’s Housing Department, providing a space for participants to share their housing experiences and explore new opportunities. Among the attendees was Mi’el, who connected with Commissioner Alice Kennedy. Commissioner Kennedy has played a key role in supporting individuals facing housing insecurity in their pursuit of affordable homeownership and has been a key champion in developing tiny homes across Baltimore.
Between the resources offered by the City of Baltimore and CASH, Mi’el was connected to the developer of a new, privately funded community of 13 tiny homes. These 400-square-foot, fully furnished, single-family homes were created for working, extremely low-income individuals and families who have faced homelessness.
“It’s amazing to think that it’s actually my own home,” says Mi’el, who moved into her Hope Village home in November 2024.
The area where the new housing community was built was previously an alleyway in Baltimore’s Oliver neighborhood.
Mi’el – who is currently pregnant with her second daughter – says that establishing secure housing and an opportunity for generational wealth exceeds her expectations of Baltimore’s GI program.
“The house is so beautiful and it’s just a really big blessing for me,” she says. “It’s because of this program that my children will be safe and they’ll always have a home to go to.”
“They are the reason why I got this far.”
Mi’el wishes everyone in her situation could have the good fortune to participate in such a life-changing program and would like to see similar programs expanded throughout Baltimore.
“There are a lot of young parents like me who could use it for bills or groceries,” Mi’el explains. “It might seem like $1,000 isn’t very much, but it makes a difference each month. Stuff out here is so hard for everyone and I think anyone could benefit from a program like this. I am definitely a witness to the program’s success.”
Mi’el says that because of her experience with Baltimore’s GI program and the relationships she has developed with program administrators, she now has a positive outlook on her future. She is preparing to take her GED and has already secured free tuition for nursing school.
“At one point, I told the people at CASH that I wanted to be an LPN [licensed practical nurse],” Mi’el explains. “I knew nothing about this and they found this program for me. They led me on the path to do this. They are the reason why I got this far.”
Mi’el says she plans to stay in touch with the CASH Campaign and looks forward to sending them her graduation information in the near future.
“I appreciate their help so much,” she says. “It’s because of them that my future has literally changed for the better.”
Visit the CASH Campaign of Maryland blog to read additional stories about Baltimore’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program.