Affording Survival Cohort 1
Affording Survival is a guaranteed income pilot launched in July 2024 by The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence, a Chicago-based coalition of member agencies serving domestic violence (DV) survivors across Illinois. Cohort 1 provided 76 DV survivors who are parents/caregivers of minor children, and who were housed in a partner agency's DV rapid rehousing/transitional housing program, with $1,000/month for 12 months plus access to an additional $2,000 flexible fund. The pilot pairs cash with housing stability support and optional financial coaching. It is privately funded and is being evaluated by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR).
Domestic violence survivors, guaranteed income, housing plus cash pilot, Chicago, flexible supplemental fund, CGIR research pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence
- City
- Chicago
- State / Province
- Illinois
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://the-network.org/
- Phone
- +1 312 527 0730
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 76
- Funding type
- Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 14,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,166.67 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Check, Digital/Virtual payment card, Direct deposit to bank account, Paypal, Pre-paid debit card, Venmo
- Benefit details
Participants received $1,000/month in unconditional cash for 12 months, disbursed via payment processor Usio, Inc. through the participant's choice of check, direct deposit, prepaid debit card, PayPal, Venmo, or a digital/virtual payment card. Each participant also had access to an additional $2,000 supplemental flexible fund they could apply for during the program to meet other financial needs. Participants could opt into credit-building education and financial coaching, with housing case managers trained in financial coaching skills. Total potential benefit per participant across the pilot is up to $14,000 ($12,000 guaranteed plus up to $2,000 supplemental).
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were survivors of domestic violence who were parents or caregivers of minor children and who were housed in a partner agency's DV rapid rehousing or transitional housing program at the time of application. The pilot served 76 survivors and their children across the Chicago/Chicagoland area (Cook County). Enrollment was not open to general public application; participants came through partner DV service agencies, including the transitional housing program referenced in program materials.
Family
- Family Status
- Parent
- Number of dependents (minimum)
- 1
Housing
- Housing status
- Homeless
Geography
- US states covered
- Illinois
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Chicago
- Counties covered
- Cook
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Partner agency's DV rapid rehousing/transitional housing program
- Research / participation requirements
Evaluation is led by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR), studying safety and economic-stability impacts of combining housing support, unconditional cash, and optional financial coaching for DV survivors. The Network's own 2025 Impact Report states a full CGIR evaluation will be released in 2026; the seed data's '2027' date could not be independently confirmed and may reflect a later publication timeline.
Application Process
- How to apply
Not open to public application; survivors were enrolled through partner domestic violence agencies, limited to those already housed in a DV rapid rehousing/transitional housing program.
- Selection process
Participants were selected from among DV survivors already enrolled in partner agencies' rapid rehousing/transitional housing programs who were parents/caregivers of minor children; further selection criteria are not publicly documented.
