Multnomah Mothers' Trust (Phase 3 / Year 3 increased-rate period)
The Multnomah Mothers' Trust is a guaranteed income and participatory research pilot directed by the Multnomah Idea Lab within Multnomah County's Department of County Human Services, funded by roughly $2.9 million in federal ARPA relief dollars. It provides unconditional monthly cash payments to about 100 Black mothers referred by community partners Black Parent Initiative and WomenFirst Transition and Referral. UpTogether serves as the program's distribution and technology partner, delivering the cash to members' accounts. Payments began at $500/month in May 2022, a $3,000 bonus was paid at the end of 2022, and the monthly amount rose to $750 in 2023, continuing through the program's close around June/July 2024. Members also helped design a companion homeownership initiative, Finna Act Black (FAB).
Racial wealth gap, Black mothers, ARPA-funded, participatory research, Multnomah Idea Lab, county government pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Multnomah County (Multnomah Idea Lab, Department of County Human Services)
- City
- Portland
- State / Province
- Oregon
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://www.multco.us/multnomah-idea-lab-mil-innovation-government/multnomah-mother%E2%80%99s-trust
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 100
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 9,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 750 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Check, Digital/Virtual payment card, Direct deposit to bank account, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- Benefit details
During this 2023-2024 segment of the Trust, each of the roughly 100 member households received $750 per month, up from the $500/month rate paid earlier in the program; a separate one-time $3,000 bonus had been paid to each household at the end of 2022. Payments were unconditional with no restrictions on use. Funds were distributed via UpTogether's platform, which supports check, digital/virtual payment card, direct bank deposit, and mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) options. Members could also opt in to a compensated, member-designed homeownership program, Finna Act Black (FAB).
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were Black mothers/female-headed households with children living in Multnomah County, Oregon, a population identified as highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no public application; the roughly 100 members were referred into the Trust by community-based partner organizations, primarily Black Parent Initiative and WomenFirst Transition and Referral (with some referrals via the Healthy Birth Initiative). Membership was fixed to the original cohort recruited in 2021-2022; this record reflects the continuation of that same cohort at an increased payment rate rather than a new participant intake.
Demographics
- Sex
- Female
- Gender
- Female
- Race / ethnicity targets
- Black / African American
Family
- Family Status
- Parent, Single Parent
Geography
- US states covered
- Oregon
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- Multnomah
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Finna Act Black (FAB) homeownership program (member-designed, opt-in add-on, not required for base cash payments)
- Research / participation requirements
Administered by the Multnomah Idea Lab (Multnomah County Dept. of County Human Services) as a human-centered, participatory research project. Members are treated as co-researchers/'Trust members' rather than service recipients and can opt in to submit monthly data for additional compensation. Findings inform county racial-equity policy; a formal evaluation with preliminary results was expected in 2024, and the Trust helped inspire other county cash-transfer efforts for refugees/asylees and people transitioning out of incarceration.
Application Process
- How to apply
No public/open application; members were referred into the Trust by partner community-based organizations (Black Parent Initiative and WomenFirst Transition and Referral, with additional referrals via the Healthy Birth Initiative).
- Selection process
Two community-based organizations, Black Parent Initiative and WomenFirst Transition and Referral, identified and referred approximately 100 Black mothers highly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to join the Trust as members.
