ARPA

ARPA Insight Stories: The Unsung Heroes of Our Community

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The Unsung Heroes of Our Community:

Direct Care Workers and the Lifeline of the American Rescue Plan Act

As the backbone of our healthcare system, direct care workers include home health aides, nursing assistants, personal care aides, and other professionals who provide essential services to those in need. They offer hands-on care to Baltimore's aging population, people with disabilities, and individuals with chronic illnesses. Baltimore’s direct care workforce often subsists on low wages. A Maryland Regional Direct Services Collaborative study states, “Inadequate compensation is the single biggest factor driving the workforce crisis

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CRO Kerney on WYPR: Federal funds rushed into Baltimore during the pandemic. How have they been spent?

Listen to CRO Kerney on WYPR! Yesterday, CRO Kerney shared how ARPA provides financial relief for families, small business support, youth programs, affordable and supportive housing, and enhanc
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ARPA Insight Stories: Baltimore, Let’s Ride to Work

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Baltimore, Let’s Ride to Work

Returning Baltimoreans to Work: Utilizing ARPA Fund for Commutes During and After the Pandemic

In 2022, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced the launch of Baltimore City’s innovative transportation program, “Let’s Ride to Work.” Let’s Ride to Work (LRTW) is a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development (MOED) and Lyft, Inc., supported with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act grant. Those who qualify must be 18 years or older, a resident of Baltimore City, have been newly employed within the past two weeks, work a minimum of 32 hours per week, and have a transportation need to reach their place of employment within Baltimore City. In keeping with its mission of delivering economic justice to Baltimore City residents, MOED invested $267,000 to fund up to 40 free rides per eligible resident for the first four weeks of employment. By then, the resident will likely have received their first paycheck, putting them on course to address their future transportation needs. Read more...

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ARPA Insight Stories: Justice-Impacted Workforce Development - Greater Baltimore Urban League

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Justice-impacted job seekers faced unique challenges and disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barriers to employment for justice-impacted individuals existed before the pandemic but were exacerbated in a post-pandemic job market. In August 2022, Mayor Brandon Scott awarded $1 million in ARPA funding to the Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL) through the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs for a workforce development program that provides counseling, case management, skills training, and certifications for Baltimore residents returning from incarceration. Click here to read more about Baltimore's continuing work on providing workforce development for justice-impacted individuals through ARPA-partner Greater Baltimore Urban League...

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