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PROVIDING RELIEF TO FRANKLIN COUNTY FAMILIES WITH THE LAUNCH OF OHIO MOTHERS TRUST
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am deeply thankful for partners and allies like you, who share in the vision and mission of RISE Together. Your commitmentfuelstheworkwedoeverydaytoupliftandempowerthosemostinneed.
This year has been nothing short of transformative. We successfully hosted the 3rd Annual Poverty Innovation Summit, an inspiring gathering of thought leaders and ideas to tackle systemic challenges. Our participation with FranklinCountyinanationalGuaranteedIncomeSprintallowedustoexploreinnovativeapproachestoeconomic stability.Additionally,welaunchedapivotalresearchpartnershipwiththeKirwanInstituteandcontinuedimportant work on developing the Community Information Exchange to create new opportunities for collaboration and resource-sharinginourcommunity.
Aswelookaheadto2025andbeyond,ourteamispreparingfornewopportunitiestoexpandourreachanddeepen ourimpact.Thismonth,weproudlyreleasedthe2024PovertySnapshotReport,avitalresourcethatwillguideusin navigatingFranklinCounty’schallengesandimplementingsolutionsthatdelivermeasurableresults.
One of the year’s most heartening milestones has been the launch of the Ohio Mothers Trust pilot, a direct-cash assistance program for single mothers in partnership with Motherful and UpTogether. This initiative offers these womenapathwaytogreaterfinancialstability,empoweringthemtobuildstrongerfuturesforthemselvesandtheir families.
Lookingahead,Iamfilledwithexcitementforwhat’stocome.Asweplanfor2025,ourfocusremainssteadfaston advancingsolutionsthatbringhope,opportunity,andmeaningfulchangetothosewhoneeditmost.Together,we willcontinuebuildingonthisyear’ssuccessestoamplifyourimpactandtransformlives.
Thankyouforwalkingalongsideusinthisessentialwork.Yoursupport,passion,anddedicationinspireuseveryday. Asweenteranewyear,letusmoveforwardwithhopeanddetermination,unitedinoursharedvisionforabrighter future.
Withheartfeltappreciation, CEO,RISETogetherInnovationInstitute
RISE Together Hosts BIG TABLE Conversation on Guaranteed Income
By Rohnesha Horne
On Wednesday, September 25, the RISE Together Innovation Institute hosted a Big Table conversation, as part of a community-wide initiative led by the Columbus Foundation. The event, titled "Let's Boost the Economic Security of Families: Guaranteed Income," took place at RISE Together’s offices in the historic Trolley District.
ThediscussionwasledbyRISE Together’s CEO, Danielle Sydnor, alongside Will Petrik, Director of Policy & Advocacy. The conversation provided an in-depth look at the concept of Guaranteed Income and its potential to strengthen economic security for families inFranklinCounty.
A Guaranteed Income refers to regular,directpaymentsmadeto individuals or households to foster economic stability and improve overall well-being. The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by many families in our community, including struggles to afford groceries, pay utility bills, access transportation, and secure childcare.Presentersemphasized the transformative impact even modest financial support can have on families. For instance, a monthly buffer of $300 could alleviate financial strain, allowing familiestomeetbasicneedsand createafoundationforlong-term stability.
Then families have sufficient resources, children benefit significantly—they are healthier, performbetteracademically,and aremorelikelytoachievehigher incomesasadults.
The event also focused on the principle that all individuals— regardlessofrace,income,orzip code—deserve to live with a foundation of economic security and stability. This belief was centraltotheday’sdiscussion.
RISE Together is grateful to everyonewhoparticipatedandto the Columbus Foundation for fostering a space to connect, learn, and exchange ideas. The conversation underscored RISE Together’s commitment to equity-drivensolutionsthatuplift families and communities in FranklinCounty.
“...a monthly buffer of $300 could alleviate financial strain, allowing families to meet basic needs....”
Partner & Allies Reception Sparked Major Buzz and Appetite for Change!
By Rohnesha Horne
On the evening of Wednesday, December 4th, RISETogetherInnovationInstitutemarkedapivotal momentinitsjourneywithaninspiringPartner& Allies Reception. Hosted in the heart of Franklin County, the event showcased the Institute’s dedication to tackling economic insecurity and fosteringequityinCentralOhio.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the groundbreaking initiative, OhioMothersTrust,thefirstunrestrictedmonthly guaranteedincomepilotinCentralOhio.Designed to address the urgent needs of mothers and caregivers, the program reflects RISE Together's commitment to bold and innovative solutions for economicjustice.
Adding to the evening’s significance, the Institute unveiled its 2024 report, Poverty and Economic Insecurity in Franklin County,” a compelling and data-rich exploration of the systemic barriers facingresidents.Thisreportispoisedtoserveasa vital resource for policymakers and advocates in drivingactionablechange.
A Night of Powerful Voices
The reception was elevated by impactful remarks fromanimpressiverosterofleaderswhochampioned the cause of economic justice. CEO Danielle Sydnor setthetonewithhervisionfortransformativechange, emphasizingtheInstitute'smissiontobeacatalystfor solutionsthatupliftcommunities.
Otherspeakersincluded:
- Charleta Tavares, RISE Together Board Chair, who highlighted the strategic focus of RISE Together’s work.
- Commissioner Kevin Boyce, who underscored the importance of partnerships in combating poverty, as wellasinnovation.
- Christie Angel and Liz Brown, whoreflectedonthe role of community advocacy and long-term vision in drivingprogress.
- Matt Habash, Trudy Bartley, and Deputy Franklin County Administrator Joy Bivens, whoeachbrought unique perspectives on how public, private, and nonprofitsectorsmustuniteforlastingimpact.
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A Diverse and Engaged Audience
The reception brought together a dynamic mix of community leaders, elected officials, and business influencers, creating an atmosphere ripe for collaboration. Theseindividuals,alldeeplyinvestedin FranklinCounty’sfuture,lefttheeventenergizedand alignedintheircommitmenttomeaningfulchange.
Buzz and Coverage
Theeventdidnotgounnoticed.Mediaoutletsacross the region highlighted the evening’s announcements and discussions, amplifying the message that economic insecurity is a challenge that demands immediate,collectiveaction.
RISE Together's Momentum
The Partner & Allies Reception was more than a launch—it was a rallying cry. It demonstrated RISE Together's capacity to turn bold ideas into tangible action, fostering optimism and determination across sectors.
As the Ohio Mothers Trust initiative begins, and with the insights from the 2024 report fueling advocacy efforts,RISETogetherispoisedtoleadthechargein creatingaFranklinCountywhereeveryonecanthrive. WiththemomentumsparkedonDecember4th,RISE Togetherhastakenitsmissionfromblueprinttoreality —andthejourneyhasonlyjustbegun.
An Excerpt from our 2024 Poverty Snapshot Report
By Will Petrik
Franklin County is home to over 1.3 million people. Whilemuchofthedominantnarrativeisfocusedon the growth and prosperity of the region, hundreds of thousands of residents are struggling with rising costs, stagnant wages, and the ongoing stress of economic instability. The RISE Together Innovation Institute's latest report underscores the urgency of thesechallengeswhileofferingactionablesolutions forfosteringeconomicsecurityanddignityforall.
The Depth of Economic Insecurity
Imagine a single parent in Columbus working fulltime as a home health aide for $12.25 an hour. Despitetheirhardwork,theycannotmeettherising costs of housing, childcare, and groceries. Because of this, they have to resort to substandard housing, skipping meals, or becoming trapped in a debt spiraltryingtoprovidefortheirfamily.
This scenario reflects the struggles of 194,000 Franklin County residents (15% of the population) livingbelowtheFederalPovertyLevel(FPL)in2023.
Nearly 1 in 5 children in Franklin County live in poverty, which limits their long-term potential. However, poverty is only part of the story of economic insecurity in Franklin County. Many more families are living paycheck to paycheck, just one emergency away from not being able to pay all theirbills.
In 2022, while 13% of Franklin County households lived below the FPL, a staggering 39% of households struggled to afford necessities such as food, healthcare, childcare, housing, and transportation.
Disparities Shaped by Race and Place
Systemic inequities have created deep divides in Franklin County. Black residents are more than twice as likely as white residents to live in poverty (24% vs. 10%), and Hispanic residents experience povertyatsimilarlyhighrates(20%).Yet,inabsolute numbers,whiteresidentsmakeupthelargestshare of those below the poverty line compared to Black andHispanicresidents.
“Geographically, poverty rates reflect a history of systemic disinvestment. In urban areas such as Franklinton and South Linden, poverty rates soar to 54% and 36%, respectively, compared to just 2.2% in New Albany and 2.6% in Powell. “
The Underlying Drivers: Systemic Racism, Rising Costs, and Low Wages
Howdidwegethere?Systemicracism,risingcosts, and low wages have created and exacerbated issues that lead to economic insecurity for Franklin Countyresidents.
Systemic Racism
Disparitiesbasedonraceandzipcodearenotnew.
Black residents disproportionately experience economic insecurity due to centuries of policy choices that have excluded them from wealthbuilding, educational, and housing opportunities. Since1804,Ohiohashadadifferentsetofcodesfor Blackresidents.
Policies such as redlining and racial covenants excluded Black residents from homeownership opportunities. I-71 and I-70 were built through predominantly Black neighborhoods such as the Near East Side, Milo Grogan, and King-Lincoln, displacing businesses and thousands of residents, and further entrenching economic and racial inequalities.
These policies perpetuated systemic inequalities and limited economic mobility among Black residents. The legacy of these policies continues to impact poverty rates in neighborhoods across FranklinCounty.
Rising Costs
The cost of living in Franklin County has surged. Housing costs have skyrocketed, with the median home price up 54% since 2017 and rents for twobedroom apartments increasing by 47% over the same period. Childcare costs have risen dramatically, with families paying over $2,200 monthly for childcare in 2022—20% more than in 2018. Even groceries are more expensive, with essentials like eggs and bread up by over 50% in recentyears.
Low Wages
Mostofusareworkinghardtobuildabetterlifefor ourselves and our families. However, wages have notkeptpacewiththerisingcostofliving.Sevenof the ten most common jobs in the Columbus metro area don’t pay enough for a renter to afford a 2bedroom apartment in Columbus. These jobs, including fast food, retail, home health aides and cashiers, employ roughly 180,000 residents in the Columbusmetroarea.
The Cost of Inaction
Thecostofpovertyextendsbeyondtheindividuals it directly impacts—it affects our entire community. Childhood poverty costs Franklin County an estimated $5.7 billion annually in lost earnings, higherincarcerationrates,andincreasedhealthcare and social services expenses. Moreover, economic insecurity contributes to poor health outcomes for mothers and children, exacerbating cycles of poverty.
A Path Forward: Building Economic Security and Opportunity
The challenges facing Franklin County are significant, but they are not insurmountable. Drawing on the success of pandemic-era federal policies like expanded Child Tax Credits and rental assistance, we can work together to create a path toward economic security and opportunity for all residents.
For example, increasing the supply of affordable housing and expanding eviction prevention programs can help ensure more families have a stableplacetolive.Similarly,investinginworkforce training programs and initiatives like The Columbus Promise can create pathways to higher-paying jobs and greater economic mobility for residents. Additionally, pilot programs such as guaranteed incomeinitiativesofferaninnovativewaytoreduce financial stress and give families more flexibility to meettheiruniqueneeds.
These solutions are just the beginning. For a comprehensive list of recommendations to promote economic security and create opportunities for economic mobility, I hope you’ll check out the full Executive Summary and Snapshot on Poverty and EconomicSecurityreport here
A Shared Responsibility
Poverty in Franklin County is not inevitable—it’s the result of policy choices. Together, we can make different choices. By prioritizing housing stability, job quality, and economic mobility, we can ensure that every resident has the resources they need to thrive.
The time for bold, thoughtful action is now. Let’s work together to build a Franklin County where economic security and dignity are within reach for all.
OhioMothersTrust
Thismonth,32Columbusmothers will begin receiving $500 per monthforoneyearaspartofOhio Mothers Trust, the first guaranteed income pilot in Central Ohio. Spearheaded by Motherful, RISE Together Innovation Institute, and UpTogether,thisinitiativereflects a growing movement to invest directly in families as a pathway tomorestabilityandabetterlife.
Thepilot’sfocusisclear:whenwe trustmotherswithresources,they make choices that are best for them and their families.Ohio MothersTrustdrawsonagrowing bodyofevidencethatalittleextra casheachmonthcanmakeareal differenceinpeople’slives. For example, after one year of giving 200 low-income households $500 a month in unrestrictedfundsinMinneapolis, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis outlined how the program “is creating measurable improvementsinpeople’slives.”
Compared to residents in a control group who did not receive the monthly cash, the residents who received $500 a month experienced less stress, more financial stability, less hunger, and more housing stability.A similar initiative in Jackson, Mississippi also demonstrated meaningful results: the percentage of participants who could pay all their bills jumped from 37% to 80% after one year. These pilots address immediate financial stress and empower families to planforthefuture,buildsavings, andachievegreatersecurity.
We hope to demonstrate similar results from Ohio Mothers Trust. We aim to show that providing unconditional cash support to mothers can boost their financial stability and overall well-being. UpTogether and The Ohio State University will conduct surveys and interviews with program participants to learn more about theimpactoftheadditional
incomeonmothers’abilitytoafford basic necessities each month, on their stress levels and emotional well-being, and what it means for theirchildren.
Far too many families in Franklin County struggle to afford all the essentials, such as food, housing, healthcare, childcare, and transportation. Families have seen the cost of nearly everything rise, and wages aren’t keeping pace. A growing body of research shows that one of the easiest ways to promote economic security is to improveincomesforresidents.This pilotwilldojustthat.
RISE Together is proud to co-lead this initiative as a step toward our vision of a Franklin County where all residents have resources and opportunities they need to thrive. By demonstrating the transformative potential of direct cash investments, Ohio Mothers Trust can set a precedent for bold solutions to disrupt poverty and improvelivesacrossCentralOhio.
Newly passed LinkUs will advance Mobility and Opportunity for Franklin County residents.
By Will Petrik
On Election Day, Franklin County voters approved Issue 47, paving the way for increased investment in transit and infrastructure through the LinkUS initiative. The decision will provide resources to help more people in Central Ohio get to school, work, the grocery store, and the doctor’s office.
The LinkUS initiative aims to create a more connected, equitable transportation system across Franklin County. With the approval of Issue 47, funding will be directed toward expanding bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, enhancing pedestrian and bike infrastructure, and improving access to reliable public transit.
For families and individuals struggling to make ends meet, improved public transit can be a lifeline. An estimated 39% of Franklin County households struggle to afford basic necessities, like groceries, rent, healthcare, and transportation. For many of these residents, access to reliable transportation can mean the difference between maintaining stable employment or not being able to make ends meet.
The passage of Issue 47 will mean more public transportation investments in communities on the West Side and the East Side that have historically been excluded from investment and opportunities. At RISE Together, our vision is a Franklin County where every resident, regardless of zip code or income level, has resources and opportunities to thrive. We thank Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the City of Columbus, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Committee (MORPC), and the Columbus Partnership for their leadership to prioritize mobility and equity through the LinkUS initiative. As implementation begins, we look forward to seeing the impact of these investments and continuing our work to advance economic security for all residents in Franklin County.
BOOK OF THE QUARTER
“Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.” By Matthew Desmond NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE • ONE OF TIME’S TEN BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE DECADE • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES’S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
“One of the most acclaimed books of our time, this modern classic “has set a new standard for reporting on poverty.”
-BarbaraEhrenreich,TheNewYork TimesBookReview
In Evicted, Princeton sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” MatthewDesmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they each struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Hailed as “wrenching and revelatory” (The Nation), “vivid and unsettling” (New York Review of Books), Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of twenty-first-century America’smostdevastatingproblems.Itsunforgettablescenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without whichnothingelseispossible.