Abundant Community Initiative

What is the Abundant Communities Initiative?

What if a community of around 5-7 families committed to a providing a minimum income to a family who needs it, for a period of time (a year) to bring stability to their lives. For example, if a single mother with 2 kids is earning $1500 and the minimum income standard is $3000, then This is like a community-contributed minimum income where financial responsibility is distributed across the giving circle. This way, money is given directly to families instead of donating to charities that sometimes feeding professionals making decisions and offering expert services to people who may not want or need them.

The giving circle also offers support and can meet once every 2-3 months.

[Name is a nod / tribute to classic work on Asset-Based Community Development https://www.abundantcommunity.com/]

The Issue

• Poverty: financial assistance is not enough to meet minimal standards of dignity, orallow for some margin of error before family falls into crisis. [Therefore top up to minimum income, to give stability]

• Professional services are bloated and channel away resources that can do directly to clients. [therefore direct giving]

• Burnout or burden of care on individual social workers or befrienders who take on responsibility for complex structural issues with very little individual resources. [theeofre community circle, or small (diverse) group]

Guiding Principles

Audre Lorde: “If you have come here to help me, you’re wasting your time. If you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

FAQ

How do we figure out minimum income for different groups?