BUFFALO, N.Y. — An organization called The Bridge Project is six months into its pilot program in Buffalo helping 50 mothers avoid poverty.

“Before I became involved with The Bridge Project, I lived at home with my parents because I was in school, taking classes online and working full-time, and I was terrified. I didn’t know what was going to happen,” said Bryana Leonard, who has a 4-month-old daughter named Athena.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Bridge Project is a nonprofit that distributes funds from the Monarch Foundation to low-income expecting and new moms

  •  In Buffalo, the organization has been helping 50 new moms since last December

  •  Bryana Leonard said it has been a huge help in paying rent to give her 4-month-old a home

  • The Bridge Project supports more than 1,200 mothers across the state

Last December, the pilot program connected with 50 mothers, or soon-to-be mothers, in need of financial assistance to have and raise their babies, including Leonard.

The Bridge Project is the nation’s first consistent, unconditional cash allowance program for mothers and their babies.

In Buffalo, each mother is estimated to receive an average of $20,000 over the course of three years, donated by the Monarch Foundation.

“While many important services exist, there is no program currently that allows a mom to go out for a midnight diaper run if she has run out, that allows her to flexibly spend money on a co-pay for an unexpected pediatric visit,” said Stephanie Silkowski, director of policy and strategic initiatives at The Bridge Project.

Low socioeconomic status can cause a heightened risk of pregnancy complications including abortion, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, eclampsia and gestational diabetes, according to the International Journal for Equity in Health.

This group of participants range from 18 to 37, with 60% being moms of color.

Fifteen out of 50 moms have no annual household income and more than 50% of them earn less than $15,000 a year.

Leonard said her cash helps afford an apartment for her family. It also allows her to continue to focus on her education.

“This project alone shows how much we’re supporting each other in our community," she said.

It currently supports more than 1,200 mothers in New York state and continues to expand its reach into neighboring states.