Forty-two local parents are finding new footing through Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Guaranteed Income for Columbia County program (BTCF-GICC). The two-year pilot launched to reduce economic stress during children’s critical early years, now supports 40 mothers and two fathers. Among them are parents of newborns, as well as families with up to five children.
The impact has been immediate, ranging from one family that avoided eviction, to another that was able to buy new clothes for their children to start the school year with confidence.
While each family’s story is unique, the challenges they face share common themes. Parents have reported job loss, reduced work hours, or unreliable housing. Several are recovering from medical setbacks or navigating domestic violence and legal proceedings. Others are navigating school transitions, seeking reliable childcare, or advocating for children with special needs. Three families are simultaneously raising young children while coping with the death of a spouse or child.
Through extensive outreach, participants were referred to BTCF-GICC by foster care case workers, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Some discovered the program independently through online searches. Participants were selected by lottery to receive $500/month and received their first payments in August.
