Suzanna Fritzberg, executive director of The Bridge Project, says moms know what their children need best. “They know when a dollar needs to go toward rent, food on the table, or even a camp scholarship for their kids,” she said.
The Bridge Project is a cash assistance program that gives expecting mothers unconditional, direct payments during a child’s most critical first thousand days of life. Begun in New York City five years ago, the initiative has expanded to nine states and this fall, to New Jersey. The goal is simple: To break the cycle of childhood poverty by trusting mothers to decide what their families need most.
“Our premise is when you trust moms with resources and no strings attached, children grow up healthier, and parents can thrive economically,” said Fritzberg. “And we’ve seen that in our own research and in the field again and again.”
The program plans to support 250 pregnant women in Newark, Trenton, Paterson, and in the southern counties of Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland. Applicants must be at least 18, earn under $44,000 a year, and be 23 weeks pregnant or less. No Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is required.
“New Jersey has one of the highest wealth gaps in the country. There are a quarter of a million children living in poverty, one in eight are experiencing food insecurity,” Fritzberg said.
The Bridge Project’s New Jersey expansion is backed by $6 million in local funding and the Monarch Foundation. Under the program, each participant receives three years of support, starting with a one-time prenatal stipend of just over $1,100, followed by $750 a month for the first 15 months, then $375 a month for the next 21 months.
“That starts with that prenatal stipend so moms can buy a car seat, a stroller, the essentials before baby comes,” said Fritzberg. “And throughout that time, we connect them to local resources like GED programs or job training.”
Newark resident Essence Vines just graduated from Kean University. She’s a mother of two daughters, ages 11 and 14, with another baby on the way. “Before, I was making reasonable money to maintain a household, but this program helps with the gaps in between — especially when you have little to no support from the other half or your own family,” she said.
When asked how it felt to be one of the 250 applicants chosen, Vines said: “Honestly, it took me back to my graduation and having my name called and like ‘wow,’ I am deserving of this.’”
Vines says the extra support offers stability and peace of mind — especially as critical food assistance programs will run out of money at the end of this month due to the ongoing government shutdown. She receives monthly food benefits through SNAP, also known as food stamps.
“It feels like a relief, especially knowing that food stamps will be jeopardized across the nation,” said Vines. “I’ll definitely be more strategic, buying in bulk, saving, with wipes and diapers.”
“We really care about supporting and defending our moms’ dignity and endowing them with our trust,” Fritzberg added.
Applications opened October 1 and will remain open until all 250 spots are filled, with payments beginning in November.
