Mid Massachusetts News

Over 1,000 households submitted applications for the City of Cambridge's new cash assistance program, Rise Up Cambridge, within the first 24 hours following the launch of the application period on June 1. This response represents approximately 50% of eligible families in Cambridge, highlighting the strong demand and support for this program within the community.

The Rise Up Cambridge program empowers residents to decide how to best meet their basic needs and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Cambridge is utilizing the direct cash assistance approach to positively impact some of its most vulnerable families as they strive for economic stability, access to education and opportunity, and improved health. With this program, Cambridge became the first city in the nation to introduce a non-lottery program to provide direct cash assistance to all eligible families.

“Rise Up will be deeply impactful for so many of our low income families," said Cambridge Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui. "We are thrilled at the number of applications that came in on the first day of the program. The Rise Up team looks forward to working with our Cambridge families to improve their financial stability.”

"Every Cambridge resident deserves to have a basic level of economic stability, and I am excited that the launch of Rise Up Cambridge has been successful," said Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. "Each family has unique needs and should be empowered to make their own financial decisions, whether related to education, childcare, housing, food, or just enjoying life's moments."

“The Rise Up Cambridge outreach teams will be assisting residents with the applications at sites across the city for the next two months and conducting outreach in eight different languages,” said Tina Alu, Executive Director of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC) and Rise Up Cambridge partner. “This program is critical because people in poverty can develop a sense of hopelessness that they’ll never reach financial stability — despite often working 2-3 jobs. I am proud the CEOC has partnered with the City on this critical work.”

"The data show that half the people in the eligible families are children. Rise Up Cambridge is a powerful example of what we can do together to respect the dignity and resilience of our families and make a difference in the lives of children,” said Geeta Pradhan, president of the Cambridge Community Foundation, a Rise Up Cambridge partner. “We're incredibly thankful for the City's strong leadership and Rise Up Cambridge’s committed partners, including CEOC and so many others."

The registration period for Rise Up Cambridge is open through July 31, 2023, with initial payments beginning June 30.

To learn more about Rise Up Cambridge, program eligibility, in person application assistance, or to apply, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/riseup.

About Rise Up Cambridge

The Rise Up Cambridge: Cash Payments for Families with Kids Program is the only citywide cash assistance program of its kind in the country. This new program aims to equip families with economic mobility by providing direct cash to low-income Cambridge households with children at or under 21 years of age, earning at or below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Participants are eligible to receive $500 per month for 18 months. Rise Up Cambridge is being funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and run in partnership with the Office of Mayor Siddiqui, Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, and the Cambridge Community Foundation. 

Original source can be found here.