THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR WES MOORE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR Children

 ENOUGH Initiative Overview

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Background - ENOUGH Initiative
Background

There are roughly 150,000 children in Maryland living in poverty. For too long, concentrated childhood poverty has existed in neighborhoods across the state, denying many children the ability to reach their full potential. But every child deserves more than just a chance to survive – they deserve the opportunity to thrive.

For decades, government programs have tried to reduce poverty without directly listening to the people most affected and with mixed results. ENOUGH flips that model on its head by bringing together state agencies, local nonprofits, philanthropies, and community leaders with shared goals and clear outcomes.

This initiative recognizes that people who live in a community are best positioned to lead the change in that community. It puts funding and power directly in the hands of neighborhood organizations – not agencies or outsiders.

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About the ENOUGH Initiative
About the ENOUGH Initiative

“There's a measure of intentionality that drives concentrated poverty – so there needs to be a measure of intentionality in how we're going to address it.”

– Governor Wes Moore

Governor Wes Moore recognizes that poverty is driven by policies, so tackling it requires a bold, intentional, and community-centered approach. In 2024, the Moore-Miller Administration spearheaded the passage of the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households (ENOUGH) Act, a law intended to tackle the root causes of poverty in Maryland by addressing inequities and working with impacted communities to develop local solutions.

This first-in-the-nation, community-driven effort to reduce the number of children living in concentrated poverty has an initial commitment of more than $100 million for four years from state, philanthropic, and private partners.

Today, Maryland’s ENOUGH Initiative, administered by the Governor’s Office for Children (GOC), is supporting 27 community-led organizations across 12 counties, representing rural, suburban and urban areas in the state that have been historically impacted by barriers to economic mobility. Through the use of data, residents’ lived experiences, and cross-sector collaboration, this pioneering grant initiative aims to improve access to four key pillars of development for young people – quality healthcare, safer communities, good schools and good jobs – so that more children and families can prosper.

Theory of Action with Pillars

ENOUGH Theory of Action

Enough Pillars
High-Quality Childcare and Education

High-Quality Childcare and Education

Unlocking children’s potential through early care and education from birth until working in a career, specifically ensuring smooth transitions - across K-12 to college and career.
Healthy Families

Healthy Families

Ensuring community members and families access to high-quality healthcare with goals of decreasing infant mortality, increasing life expectancy, and improving mental health.
Economically Secure Families

Economically Secure Families

Ensuring higher rates of employment in living wage jobs and stable, thriving households where families can provide necessities, weather hard times, and build wealth.
Safe and Thriving Communities

Safe and Thriving Communities

Creating communities where residents feel safe and can thrive through high-quality, affordable housing, a robust commercial core, and access to recreational spaces, nutritious food, and transportation.
ENOUGH By The Numbers - Wide Layout

ENOUGH By The Numbers

550+ Cross-sector partners including K-12 schools, major employers, health care institutions, and faith-based organizations
18,000+ Marylanders engaged at the resident level
81 Evidence-led programs to increase access to good jobs, good schools, quality health care, and safe neighborhoods.
3:1 The average return on state funding invested in the ENOUGH grant program through strategically leveraging philanthropic and additional state funding

“This is an opportunity to leverage additional sources of capital. This legislation will channel private, philanthropic, and state resources to communities with the highest rates of generational poverty.”

– Governor Wes Moore

The Impact of ENOUGH

Weekend Tutoring Sessions in Riverdale: Using ENOUGH funds, the Latin American Youth Center has launched a “Saturday Academy” to deliver weekly tutoring sessions in math and reading to support students’ academic growth. 25 middle school students were enrolled in the Saturday Academy this spring.

“Veggie Van” Delivering Fresh Produce: In Frederick, the community used $60,000 in ENOUGH funding to purchase a refrigerated “Veggie Van” which will deliver fresh produce into communities facing food insecurity.

New child care center in Hagerstown: Before ENOUGH, the South End of Hagerstown had only one licensed family childcare provider with just 8 seats. Using ENOUGH grant funding, the community was able to source a location and license for an additional child care center. With additional ENOUGH Alliance philanthropic support, the child care center—tripling the community’s child care capacity.

State Grants to ENOUGH Communities to Combat Food Insecurity: In Spring 2026, the Maryland Department of Health launched a $10 million grant opportunity specifically for ENOUGH communities for “Produce Rx”—vouchers and delivery of fresh fruits and vegetables specifically for residents with certain health conditions, either high-risk pregnancy or high blood pressure.

Community Public Safety Programs: In McElderry Park, an ENOUGH community is using funding to launch “Drug Free Down Da Hill”—a neighborhood watch-style patrol program aimed at reducing public drug use in the neighborhood by connecting individuals experiencing addiction to recovery resources, job training, and housing. The program has served over 90 individuals with resources—free haircuts, food, clothing, and mental health and substance abuse resources.

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The Office of Governor Wes Moore
Governor's Office for Children

45 Calvert Street Annapolis MD 21401