New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in the country, but is also one of the most unequal. Nearly 1 million residents live in poverty, and the number of ALICE families — Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed — has increased 27% over the last decade. 

Those in the ALICE category struggle to afford essentials like food, housing, child care and transportation, and the skyrocketing cost of living is making it even harder. 

In these conditions, policymakers must look to proven solutions that provide immediate relief for families struggling to make ends meet. 

One of the most effective ways to support families is also the simplest: cash. 

Cash-based support programs provide relief directly to families, and give them the freedom to afford their most pressing needs, whether it be diapers, a medical copay, or an unexpected car repair. As costs continue to rise and technological change disrupts the job market, our state government must rise to the challenge of strengthening economic resilience in the face of these shocks. 

We urge New Jersey’s elected leaders to not just to expand existing programs, but to build programs that can create the economic stability all our communities deserve. 

Guaranteed income pilots in Newark, Paterson, and elsewhere in New Jersey have demonstrated that unrestricted cash made working families more economically resilient, increased housing and food security, improved children’s learning, and provided flexibility to address unforeseen circumstances. 

As the pace of change increases, the one thing that is certain is that household economic security is a prerequisite to a thriving New Jersey. 

Now is the time to provide that security. We will raise our collective voices until we deliver the flexible, unrestricted cash-based programs that our communities need.

This is more than smart economic policy — it’s a statement of our values. When we invest in families and working residents, we invest in a stronger, more stable future for everyone.