Expanding Financial Support for New Mothers in Milwaukee: A Look at The Bridge Project
Milwaukee is seeing a significant expansion in a groundbreaking program aimed at addressing childhood poverty. The initiative, known as The Bridge Project, provides financial assistance directly to new mothers, with an ultimate goal of ending childhood poverty.
Originally launched in New York City in 2021, the program extended its reach to Milwaukee in 2024, thanks to the collaboration with the Wisconsin-based Zilber Family Foundation. The choice of Milwaukee was strategic, given that the city has the second highest rate of childhood poverty among the 50 most populated U.S. cities.
This expansion is bolstered by $3.1 million in funding from the Zilber Family Foundation, alongside contributions from private donors such as the Yabuki Family Foundation, the Monarch Foundation, Phoenix Investors, and the Crivello Family Foundation. Additionally, the City of Milwaukee has contributed $300,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Milwaukee mother Natasha Houle, who joined the Bridge Project in 2024, shared her experience: “Financial things seemed to keep hitting. It just gave me that breathing room that I needed to relax.” Houle, who learned about the program after a personal tragedy, initially doubted the “no strings attached” promise of the program. She was part of the first Milwaukee cohort, which included 122 mothers.
The impact of the program has been notable, with 67 percent of participants reporting decreased housing instability, 33 percent experiencing reduced food insecurity, and 23 percent engaging in new jobs or educational programs. Houle herself is completing her public health program at Alverno College, aided by a fellowship through the Bridge Project.
The new cohort will provide financial assistance to 180 pregnant individuals over the next three years. This includes a $1,125 prenatal stipend, $750 monthly for the first 15 months, and $325 monthly for the remaining 21 months. Eligibility requires participants to be at least 18 years old, no more than 23 weeks pregnant, residing in Milwaukee, and having an annual household income under $39,000. Applications open on October 1.
Suzanna Fritzberg, the executive director of the Bridge Project, emphasized the critical importance of this support: “For families operating without a financial cushion, the stresses of having a new child can mean the difference between a trap door that pushes them deeper into financial precarity and a springboard, a strong foundation that supports their ability to give their baby the best start in life.”
Fritzberg further highlighted the long-term benefits of investing in families during these formative years, noting that such strategies are among the most effective for improving maternal and infant health, which are strongly linked to better long-term health outcomes.
Lianna Bishop, Executive Director of the Zilber Family Foundation, explained the flexibility the cash payments offer: “It might be able to take some of the stress off. This month it might mean I need to buy a crib for my baby, and next month it might be I need help with utilities.”
Bishop, reflecting on her work with the program, expressed admiration for the participating mothers: “Seeing how any mother strives to take care of their children in the best way that they can is really powerful. The strength and determination that they have has been really moving and inspired me in my own parenthood journey.”
