In Her Hands: A Guaranteed Income Initiative Final Report

Overview

The In Her Hands (IHH) guaranteed income initiative provided $20,400 over two years to 654 low-income women in three Georgia communities: Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, College Park, and the rural Clay-Randolph-Terrell counties. Rooted in the “Black Women Best” framework, the program aimed to address long-standing racial and gender inequities through flexible, community-informed direct cash transfers.

Key Findings

• Improved financial stability: Participants were 60% less likely to report difficulty paying bills and 40% less likely to be unable to cover a $400 emergency expense. Many used funds to pay down debt and avoid predatory lending services.
   
• Health and nutrition gains: The share of participants unable to afford medical care dropped by 43%. Food insecurity declined sharply across all three sites, with rural participants reporting the most dramatic improvements.
   
• Stronger family and community support: Participants increased savings for children’s education, spent more quality time with family, and tripled the amount of financial assistance given to others.
   
• Workforce and education outcomes: Participants initially used the funds to stabilize, then increasingly engaged in flexible employment and educational goals. No negative impacts on employment were found by year two.
   
• Expanded access and opportunity: Participants across sites reported easier access to banks, schools, transportation, and health care. Outcomes improved regardless of payment structure, geography, or racial/ethnic identity.

Policy Implications

The IHH initiative demonstrates the value of guaranteed income programs designed with equity at the center. Findings suggest such programs are effective tools to reduce hardship, promote health and well-being, and support long-term investments—particularly among Black women and low-income families. The report calls for broader adoption of guaranteed income policies as a strategy to address systemic inequality and build economic resilience.