Residents of Baltimore did receive$ 1, 000 if they support the new “baby benefit” program, which will provide new parents with a one-time payment.
A group of Baltimore teachers is asking for help to review the program in an effort to end childhood poverty that starts at birth.
Following a successful campaign where followers collected 10,000 signatures to present the proposal to electors, the program will be on the ballot for town residents in November. Their plan included intensive canvassing and a endearing brand, which read,” A animation bird flying with a bag of money,” according to AP.
The plan draws inspiration from a system in Flint, Michigan, where people receive$ 1,500 mid- maternity and$ 500 monthly for the first year post-birth. This is the first time in the US that European and Asian countries have implemented larger cash payments to encourage higher delivery costs, rather than immediately addressing child poverty. For example, Italy provides girl bonus inspections to boost population numbers.
Organisers behind the Baltimore program contend that while broader structural changes are required to elevate people out of poverty, giving new parents a small fiscal boost might be a crucial first step.
According to the CBS News, Nate Golden, leader of the Maryland Child Alliance, the proposal’s goal is to provide financial assistance to people who adopt or give birth.
The Baltimore Baby Bonus was conceived as a strategy to engage citizens by circumnavigating state and city politicians, according to Golden.
The measure must have 10,000 confirmed signatures before it can be put on the ballot for the 2024 General Election.
The main purpose is to minimize the hardship. About 31 % of Baltimore’s school-aged babies are affected by youth hunger, which is consistent with a national trend where hunger prices, which decreased during the pandemic according to federal aid, have since increased to around 12 % as of 2022.
Golden highlighted the urgent need in Baltimore, where some students face poverty, food insecurity, and other challenges outside the classroom, impacting their ability to learn properly, reported CBS News.
If approved, the program will provide a one- time payment of at least$ 1, 000 to all new families in Baltimore. With an estimated 7, 000 births annually in the city, the program would cost approximately$ 7 million annually, constituting roughly 0.16 % of the city’s yearly budget.
