Philadelphia pilots cash assistance for pregnant residents

Philadelphia has rolled out a program this week that will give $1,000 a month to pregnant people in three neighborhoods with the highest risk factors for poor birth outcomes.

Why it matters: The guaranteed income pilot aims to reduce Philly's infant mortality rate — which is far above the national average and disproportionately affects communities of color.

The big picture: Philly joins a growing number of cities including San Francisco , Denver and San Antonio experimenting with no-strings-attached payments to address homelessness, poverty and other inequities.

State of play: The Philly Joy Bank , which began taking applications on Monday, will distribute payments to 250 people from Cobbs Creek, Strawberry Mansion and Nicetown-Tioga.

• Participants will receive 18 monthly payments totaling $18,000.
• Applicants will be selected from a lottery every two weeks, with the first payments set to begin in July.
• The three-year program is run through the city's Department of Public Health.

Plus: The program will offer all applicants free support and services, including lactation consultation , home visiting , a doula , and financial counseling.

What they're saying: "This program is to lift the autonomy and dignity of participants, for them to address their basic needs … which will then in turn improve their health outcomes," Nia Coaxum, the program manager for the Philly Joy Bank, tells Axios.

Context: Philly has struggled to reduce infant mortality, or the death of an infant before their first birthday, for decades.

• The city's infant mortality rate was 8.1 per 1,000 live births in 2018, nearly 40% higher than the national average, per the city's latest report from 2020 .
• Black infants are more than twice as likely to die than white infants, per the report.

The intrigue: Proponents say guaranteed income cuts red tape and helps lift families out of poverty.

• Critics argue it costs too much, increases dependency, and potentially increases poverty .

How it works: Philly Joy Bank participants must be over 18 and between 12-24 weeks of pregnancy.

• U.S. citizenship is not required and annual household income must be less than $100,000.
• There are no restrictions on what participants can spend the money on.

What's ahead: Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health will also evaluate the success of Philly's guaranteed income program.

• The study will analyze the program's feasibility, as well as the effects on mothers and families, including financial stability, postpartum stress and parental bandwidth.