Low-income pregnant women in NJ can get no-strings-attached cash payments for 3 years

An organization trying to end child poverty will give 250 New Jersey moms-to-be cash payments with no strings attached to help them through the first three years of their child’s life.

The Bridge Project, which already runs similar programs in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, said the goal is to give children more stability and take some financial pressure off new parents. It comes amid a crushing affordability crisis that’s squeezing parents of young children who are struggling with child care and food costs, and as federal cuts threaten to strip benefits from many low-income households.

“New Jersey consistently ranks among the most inequitable states in the country, with over 250,000 children living in poverty and one in eight facing food insecurity,” said Suzanna Fritzberg, executive director of the Bridge Project.

She said the unconditional payment program “aims to directly empower families by providing financial freedom to meet their unique needs at a time of ongoing economic precarity.”

Participants will receive a one-time $1,125 prenatal stipend and then receive $750 every month for the first 15 months and $375 monthly for the following 21 months. Applications for the program opened this week online and the first payments will begin next month.

To be eligible, New Jersey residents must be 18 years or older, have a household income below $44,000 annually, be no more than 23 weeks pregnant and be residents of Newark, Trenton, Paterson, or in Gloucester, Salem or Cumberland counties. A Social Security number is not required to apply.

According to the Bridge Project, results from programs operating across various states show 90% of participants reported improved mental health and stress levels after receiving just one payment. And 64% of moms living in transitional housing reported moving into permanent housing within nine months of joining the program, according to the project.

“We know that giving parents and newborns a strong start is one of the most powerful ways to break cycles of poverty and build lasting stability,” Sandra Toussaint, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Mercer County, said in a statement. “For moms, this means less financial stress and more time to nurture their babies.”