On Friday, August 23rd, Heluna Health hosted an engaging livestream conversation that delved into the transformative potential of guaranteed income pilot programs in the public health arena. The discussion featured two pioneering organizations: the CA Abundant Birth Project (ABP), the nation’s first pregnancy guaranteed income program, and Miracle Messages, a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness rebuild their social support systems.
Adjoa Jones and Lindsey Richard from LA County’s Department of Public Health, who are overseeing the CA Abundant Birth Project’s expansion into LA County, shared insights into the project’s progress. Following the launch of the San Francisco ABP pilot in June 2021 by Expecting Justice, a coalition of leaders in five California counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Francisco) began expanding this reproductive justice initiative. Over the next three years, the project aims to reach 950 participants to make birthing healthier and safer for those at greatest risk during pregnancy by providing no-strings-attached cash to prevent stress. This approach has been shown to reduce the likelihood of premature births and low birth weight, as well as protect the health of mothers (or birthing parents). To date, ABP has served 404 mothers and disbursed $2 million.
Nelly Stastny, Director of Miracle Money at Miracle Messages, discussed their innovative approach to addressing homelessness. Initially focused on family reunification and social support for the unhoused, Miracle Messages has reconnected over 900 individuals with loved ones and paired more than 350 with volunteers for regular calls and texts. In 2021, they launched a guaranteed income experiment, distributing nearly $1 million and later published findings from their initial study with USC School of Social Work in November 2023.
The event offered valuable insights into these groundbreaking programs and sparked a broader discussion on the implications of guaranteed income experiments in public health.
