S.F. Collaborates With Nonprofit Group on Cash-Incentive Program for Families
May 22, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
The city of San Francisco will team up with the nonprofit Family Independence Initiative on a program to pay struggling families for setting and meeting life-improvement goals such as losing weight, obtaining health insurance, and improving kids’ grades, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Families could earn up to $2,000 a year through the program, which Mayor Gavin Newsom tested two years ago with $500,000 in city funds after a similar effort achieved good results in Oakland.
The 16 San Francisco families who participated in that effort raised their income 19 percent (not including the incentive awards), six started businesses, and three bought homes.
The expanded program will not use city money but instead will seek federal support and try to tap wealthy donors.
