Some Columbus mothers will receive monthly cash payments under a new plan

Thirty-two Ohio mothers will receive the first of 12 $500 payments this week.

The payments, funded by nonprofits RISE Together Innovation Institute and UpTogether, are part of what organizers say is the first unconditional income guarantee program in the city.

According to organizers, the initiative, called the Ohio Mothers Trust, aims to help single mothers whose income is at or below 80% of the regional median income. According to the city, that would be $74,400 for a family of three.

“Ohio Mothers Trust wants to show that providing unconditional cash support to mothers can significantly increase the financial stability and overall well-being of families,” said Danielle Sydnor, CEO of RISE Together, an organization working to end poverty in Columbus Opinion.

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It can also be an investment for Franklin County, as child poverty cost the county $5.2 billion in lost economic activity in 2021, Sydnor said.

According to a December 2023 RISE Together report, this loss is due to lower income, crime, health and child welfare.

“Providing families the resources they need is an investment in their future and the future health of our community,” Sydnor said.

Where does the money come from?

Motherful, a grassroots collective of approximately 600 single mothers in the Columbus area, identified and selected participants from among its collective members who applied to the program. They will be surveyed regularly to find out how the program is affecting their lives.

“Many single mothers don’t have resources to rely on,” said Lisa Woodward, co-founder and co-director of Motherful. “They need cash because it’s not a two-income household.”

The $500 payments are money they can count on without any hurdles to jump through or strings attached, she said.

“You just have to be a single mom,” Woodward said. “Be a sister in our community.”

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Founded in 2018, Motherful has a resource garage and pantry available to members at its Gahanna location. It supports, strengthens, and empowers single mother families in a variety of ways, including by providing community, education, resources, and more.

It started when Woodward and his single mother, Heidi Howes, met and wanted to create a list of resources for single mothers, but realized there weren’t any. So they created Motherful.

“From the beginning, we always knew it was important to give money to mothers,” Woodward said. “We operate without borders. … We want moms to just get the money and feel free.”

RISE Together and UpTogether are both funding the initiative, which costs $211,200. UpTogether is a national change organization originally founded in Oakland, California in 2001 under the name Family Independence Initiative.

Since 2020, UpTogether has donated more than $210 million to more than 200,000 people through managed direct payment programs across the country.

Although Ohio Mothers Trust is a pilot program, the concept has been tested with other types of recipients, Woodward said.

“It works,” she said. “Direct cash works. I feel like we’re giving away dreams.”

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The Ohio Mothers Trust invests in mothers, said Astar Herndon, director of UpTogether’s Midwest Partnership, and trusts them to make the best decisions for their families.

“Mothers ultimately know what their families need,” Herndon said.

Woodward said Motherful wants to do more, including future cohorts of women receiving financial support.

“It’s just the beginning,” she said. “We intend to use the results of this initiative to advocate for broader, unrestricted monetary investments for families throughout Franklin County.”

“A great opportunity”

Angelique Scales joined Motherful years ago as a volunteer, helping other mothers.

Today, the 37-year-old is the one in need of resources after a divorce.

The single mother of three, who lives on Columbus’ north side, is one of 32 mothers receiving help through the Ohio Mothers Trust.

“I’m very, very grateful,” Scales said of being given the trust. “It just helps me get back on my feet as a step stool.”

Scales, a self-employed creative director and consultant, hopes to invest some of the money into herself and her business so she can be a better mother. Just getting more money for her family’s bills helps her, she said.

“This initiative means I can actually accomplish some important goals for myself,” Scales said.

Some Columbus mothers will receive monthly cash payments under a new plan

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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