FINANCE
150 Californians to be chosen for a guaranteed income program of $500 per month
Resident of two counties will be recipients of the funds in another pilot for a new universal basic income plan regardless if they are in or out of work.
Fresno County is launching an ambitious $1 million pilot program to provide monthly guaranteed income to families in need. The Advancing Fresno County Guaranteed Income Program will give 150 qualifying households $500 per month for one year, no strings attached.
The privately funded initiative targets residents in two high-poverty zip codes - 93706 in southwest Fresno and 93234 in Huron. The 93706 area has a staggering 39.6% poverty rate, while 32.3% of Huron residents live below the poverty line.
What are the eligibility criteria?
- Applicants must be adults over 18 who are pregnant or have a child aged 0-5
- Reside in zip codes 93706 and 93234
- Earn 80% or less than the area median income.
Applications opened on 15 March and will close on 15 May, with 75 families randomly selected via lottery from each zip code. Applications can be made here.
The program is funded by private foundations like The California Wellness Foundation and The California Endowment after the county was denied state funding for the pilot. Fresno Economic Opportunities Comission (FEOC) will handle financial disbursements, while Fresno State researchers will evaluate the impact on participants’ lives.
How do guaranteed income programs work?
Universal basic income (UBI), sometimes known as guaranteed income, provides a regular payment to residents regardless of their work situation. The idea behind it is that payments would decrease poverty. Outside of raw economics it would give people the chance to work less and live more fulfilling lives in being able to choose jobs they want to do rather than what they have to do to survive.