History of Project Zero

Project Zero is a welfare reform initiative to encourage and support employment. It is an outgrowth of Michigan's waiver-based welfare reform effort, To Strengthen Michigan Families, which began in October 1992. The goal of Project Zero is to reduce to zero the number of target Family Independence Program families without earned income. The Family Independence Program, or FIP, was formerly known as AFDC.

In Project Zero sites, barriers to employment for unemployed FIP customers are identified and services are developed to address those barriers. Services are provided locally by Project Zero partners and include family support, mentoring, employment support, transportation and child care.

Project Zero sites have tested new policies and implemented new operations which have been introduced statewide after successful trials.

Project Zero has a distinguished track record in helping welfare customers locate work, increase earned income and leave public assistance. It has succeeded in small, rural and larger prosperous counties as well as in low-income Detroit neighborhoods. Project partners at the state level include the FIA, Michigan Department of Career Development Work First and Michigan Works Agencies, Michigan Departments of Transportation and Community Health and Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Project Zero counties work with local service providers to meet the unique needs of local residents.

Here is a brief story of Project Zero in Michigan:

Year One

Project Zero began in six pilot sites in June 1996. When Project Zero started its first year, 40 percent of those expected to work in the original six sites were employed. After 12 months, 63 percent of those expected to work had obtained employment. Statewide, the increase was from 35 to 38 percent during the same period.

Year Two

In October 1997, Project Zero expanded to 12 sites and increased target cases from 2,500 to 12,000. From October 1997 to September 1998, earned income for those expected to work grew from 42 to 55 percent in project sites. Statewide, the increase was 43 to 54 percent during the same period.

Year Three

In October 1998, 23 new sites were added, making Project Zero active in almost one-third of the FIA county and district offices and serving nearly 20,000 cases. After 12 months, 63 percent of target cases in project sites had earnings compared to 54 percent statewide.

Year Four

In October 1999, 36 new sites were added bringing to 49 the number of counties represented. This includes all target FIP cases in four of the five most populous counties - Wayne, Oakland, Kent and Genesee.

Year Five

In June 2000, 19 new counties joined Project Zero. With the October 2000 expansion to the remaining 15 counties, all 83 Michigan counties are part of Project Zero and there are 104 participating sites.

For more information on Project Zero, visit the FIA website at www.mfia.state.mi.us and click on "Project Zero"