Embrace Mothers

Embrace Mothers was launched in 2022 by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin.

110

participants

$375

monthly payment

1 Year

duration

$495,000

invested in community

logo
Program Features  
Number of Participants110 individuals
Amount$375
Frequencymonthly
Program DatesMarch 2022-February 2023
Eligibility18 years or older, female identifying as single head of a family with children in the household under 18 years of age

About Embrace Mothers

Nearly 60% of households with children in the Birmingham are helmed by single women. Embrace Mothers supports 110 single mothers and women mothering roles (e.g., grandmothers, aunts) with $375 per month for 12 months. Participants were randomly selected by the City of Birmingham's research partner Abt Associates, and East Lake Initiative provided confidential onboarding and benefits counseling services to selected women. The Penny Foundation is fiscal agent for the program, distributing payments through the card platform MoCaFi.

Pilot concluded in 2023.

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Download Birmingham, AL's Evaluation Report

Read a research report produced by the Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) which offers summaries of key findings, along with in-depth analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data from this pilot.

download the report

Economic Context for Pilot Participants

The guaranteed income pilot launched during a period of dynamic change and economic challenges for pilot participants. The chart below situates this pilot in the context of unemployment and inflation.

Start of Covid-19 PandemicJan 2019MarMayJulSepNovJan 2020MarMayJulSepNovJan 2021MarMayJulSepNovJan 2022MarMayJulSepNovJan 2023MarMayJulSepNovJan 2024MarMayJulSepNovJan 2025MarMayJulSepNovJan 202602468101214161820Unemployment02468101214161820Inflation
Unemployment  
Inflation  
Pilot Timeline
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Spending Breakdown

The data in this pie chart shows aggregate spending for guaranteed income participants in Birmingham, AL. This includes all non-cash expenditures from the participants' pre-paid debit card that is loaded with guaranteed income payments monthly.

Spending breakdown

Food and groceries accounted for the largest share of spending, at 31.89%, followed by Retail sales and services (30.08%) and Housing & Utilities (12.78%).

Miyah

“I felt security and a sense of relief. In my life, if I don’t do it myself, it won’t get done. This money helps me take care of my family.”

Miyah

Embrace Mothers

Birmingham, AL

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