This project carried forward insights from a listening session that EPIC had held in Humboldt County. From those conversations, it was clear that benefits cliffs often play a critical role in keeping people – and multiple generations – in a cycle of poverty. Benefits cliffs represent the tradeoff someone may face between the value of additional income versus the value lost from the public benefits they no longer qualify for.

“One woman described how she was “ecstatic” to land a job making $17 an hour but her hopes for a “second chance in life” came crashing down when she lost state medical benefits as a result of working extra shifts.” – ‘You Can’t Get Ahead’: Humboldt residents lend their voices to statewide listening tour on poverty

EPIC invited us to work closely with a local partner to co-design a Benefits Access Pilot that could address these kinds of cliffs. Our local partner, McKinleyville Family Resource Center (MFRC), works to “support, enrich, and sustain healthy community life” through its diverse program offerings. As a trusted community partner and convener, the organization has built deep relationships with its program participants, community members and other service providers.

We started by defining key benefits partners that would help to implement a pilot, Humboldt County CalWORKs and Tribal TANF. MFRC helped us to establish a group of ‘Project Stewards’ from these partner organizations who we consulted over the course of the project for their expertise on benefits systems and the cliffs they’ve observed.

Building on these existing relationships and community stories, we facilitated a Co-Design session in February, 2025 – co-hosted with McKinleyville Family Resource Center. We invited over 20 people to a four-hour session to shape the design of the pilot program. Attendees included social service providers, from program and case managers to director-level staff, along with community members and staff at The Center.

From the Co-Design session, we tested the Design Principles that were constructed from both the EPIC listening session and conversations with our Project Stewards. These Principles acted as the key pillars of the potential program:

• Address benefits cliffs. Offer cash aid and other supports to people timing out of benefits programs so that they can exit poverty.
• Center dignity and autonomy. Trust people to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
• Prioritize accessibility. Ensure program services are clearly communicated and easy to use.

The Co-Design session gathered initial ideas from people with deep knowledge of local benefits programs and the populations they serve. These ideas spoke to desired values, services / components, and outcomes of a Benefits Access Pilot program.

In one of the activities, participants envisioned what could happen as a result of a successful and fully-funded program. Here are some visions from attendees, depicting what they hoped the pilot program would bring:

“It feels great to be able to stand on my own two feet and provide for my family. This program made it possible for us.”

“I felt supported through the entire process and was given a chance to achieve lasting economic change for my family.”

“The program gave me the tools and time I needed to manage the change from aid to employment.”

Below are key themes that emerged from the session, which participants deemed as critical elements of a program:

• Long-Term Impact. The program builds long-term financial security, housing, and well-being.
• Participant-Led & Self-Defined Success. Participants define what success means for them and their families.
• Whole Family Support & Stability. The program helps families, not just individuals, build long-term stability.
• Community & Connection. Participants build relationships with peers, mentors, and others, creating ongoing networks of support and motivation.
• Easy Access & Low Barriers. A simple, trust-based application process makes sure participants can get support without fear or hurdles.
• Smooth Transitions and Ongoing Support. Participants continue to get resources, aftercare services, and warm referrals after the program ends.

Among the most compelling ‘ah-ha’ moments were the expressed desires to create community and peer support among pilot participants and for the program to be centered around serving the whole family.

Once we had a foundation in local priorities, we revisited similar programs that are addressing benefits cliffs across the United States. We took inspiration from such programs as Magnolia Mother’s Trust in Jackson, Mississippi and the Career Mobility Action Map in Washington, DC.

This helped us to shape a few pilot prototypes that we validated with Project Stewards and then refined down into two alternatives that we tested with our broader group of co-designers. These two alternatives include:

1. Steady Steps is a 1.5 year, cohort-based cash aid program with gradual reduction of support, peer groups, and classes/leadership opportunities to help families transition off benefits smoothly.
2. Grow & Gain is a 2-year structured support program with cash aid, financial coaching, a savings incentive for completing, and participants graduate into advisory/mentorship roles to support future cohorts.

What’s Next?

The EPIC team is currently seeking funding partners to bring one of these co-designed pilots to life. As Patrice Berry, Chief Impact Officer, mentioned:

“In Humboldt County, we saw the transformative power of community voice to reimagine our safety net from the ground up. Rural communities hold the vision and leadership to guide us toward a more just future, but far too often, they’re left out of the conversation and overlooked when it comes to investment.”

The data is already clear: guaranteed income and benefits access lifts people out of poverty. If you’d like to be part of bringing this to life, please contact us and we’ll connect you!