Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), a Boston-based nonprofit that dramatically improves the lives of people living in poverty, is announcing its participation as an advisor in the newly formed Beyond the Cliff Coalition. This Coalition is a first-of-its-kind national collaborative of nonprofits, state and local governments, and collaborative stakeholders focused on helping families achieve economic prosperity and specifically eliminating the benefits cliff. The benefits cliff describes the experience that millions of low-income families face when they increase earnings only to face an abrupt loss in public assistance which leaves them worse off financially.

Fifteen years ago, EMPath developed its holistic coaching approach called Mobility Mentoring® that supports families to work toward and maintain economic stability. Using this model, mentors support participants in creating goals and considering potential barriers, resources, and strategies. Mentors coach participants to consider the implications of increased income, while strategizing ways to navigate the benefits cliff. This could include “jumping over the cliff” by securing a family-sustaining income, or putting plans in place to stabilize the household, and identify other resources (such as food pantries).

In designing programs, including the recent launch of our guaranteed income program with the City of Newton, MA, EMPath considers how components such as earned incentives, savings match, and guaranteed income could impact a participant’s public benefits eligibility. EMPath’s Mobility Mentoring model and program learnings are shared and adapted through our Economic Mobility ExchangeTM, a dynamic learning network of 1,000+ organizations globally that are promoting economic mobility in their own communities.

Brittany Birken, Community and Economic Development Director and Principal Adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta*, studies the impact of benefit cliffs on individuals and communities and served in an advisory capacity in the formation of this collaborative. She said, “Bringing together these innovative efforts to address the benefits cliff has the potential to identify the solutions needed to increase family economic mobility, meet employers’ talent needs, and ensure that the economy is working for everyone.”

The Coalition is being led by Martha O’Bryan Center with funding support from Kresge Foundation. The inaugural members of the Coalition include:

• Circles Salt Lake and Circles Central Florida, local chapters of Circles USA
• Colorado Benefits Cliff Collaborative comprised of Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), CrossPurpose, Innovate+Educate, Spur LLC, and TorchTech,
• Episcopal Community Services of Philadelphia
• Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
• Hennepin County Office of Workforce Development
• Onondaga County Department of Social Services
• Springfield WORKS
• Tennessee Alliance for Economic Mobility, an initiative of Martha O’Bryan Center in partnership with Tennessee Department of Human Services
• Vermont Department for Children and Families
• Workforce Development Council of Seattle King County, and
• Additional partners to be announced at a later date.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta will serve in an advisory capacity as well.

“At Martha O’Bryan, we seek solutions to the root causes of poverty. We are very excited about leading this coalition focused on eliminating the benefits cliff. As an antipoverty organization, we believe families can rise out of poverty in one generation. We recognize that that has not been true in all places for all people. Solving this issue is an important step toward expanding the landscape of opportunity for all families,” Marsha Edwards CEO & President, Martha O Bryan Center.

*The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta does not provide grants or funding to the general public or to partner organizations. It does not endorse or make any representations as to the suitability of partner organizations or their programs and do not advise on distribution of funds by partners.