WITH the costs of everyday goods skyrocketing, counties and cities across the nation are looking to soften the blow for needy families by providing direct checks.
And some Americans may be eligible for up to $3,000 in direct payments as part of Universal Basic Income (UBI) programs.
UBI programs are designed to tackle major issues like poverty and homelessness.[/caption]
So is your area on the list?
Let’s take a look.
1. FRANKLIN COUNTY
Some families experiencing homelessness in Franklin County, Ohio, will get $1,500 payments and then $500 monthly for 11 months.
The initiative is part of the Stabilize Families program.
It is run by non-profits RISE Together Innovation Institute, Community Shelter Board and others.
The pilot program involves 80 families who will receive $1,500 payments. Twenty of those families will also get $500 payments each month for 11 months, according to RISE Together.
“With the Community Shelter Board and other partners, we are building a new narrative to address poverty and support families experiencing homelessness,” RISE Together Innovation Institute CEO Danielle Sydnor said in a statement.
“Guaranteed income is a viable strategy to promote economic stability and well-being for residents in Franklin County,” the CEO added.
Ohio State University will conduct research to measure the impact of this pilot program.
The initiative comes in the wake of homelessness outpacing population growth in the county.
RISE Together’s research shows that 59% of Franklin County families will experience homelessness at one point in their lives.
RISE Together along with Motherful, and UpTogether also launched the Ohio Mothers Trust program.
This pilot program launched in 2024 aimed to provide 32 mothers in Columbus with $500 a month over the course of a year.
It was targeted at mothers with incomes at or below 80% of the median.
2. HOWARD COUNTY
Some low-income families in Howard County, Maryland, are receiving $1,000 per month for 12 months to cover household needs.
The pilot program enrolled 20 families in this GBI program.
It is led by the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC).
“GBI pilot programs have been in place for almost a decade across our nation and implemented most recently by our neighboring jurisdictions,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in a statement.
“These impactful programs have demonstrated long-term positive impacts not only on families’ economic stability but also on their emotional availability as parents.”
“Howard County’s GBI pilot program aims to diminish and uplift families out of poverty, better their lives, and enable them to be more self-sufficient,” the executive added.
How does Guaranteed Income work?
Guaranteed Income and Universal Basic Income programs have taken off in popularity recently.
After the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan of 2021 sent stimulus money to local governments, dozens began testing guaranteed income (GI) systems.
The specifics vary, but GI typically involves payouts to people with low incomes. Unlike traditional welfare, there are no job requirements, drug tests, or other strings attached.
Some have pushed for a Universal Basic Income (UBI), which would go to everyone regardless of how much money they make at work. Alaska has used a similar system since the 1970s.
Proponents say this alleviates poverty while incentivizing work, unlike classic welfare, which cuts benefits from people who begin earning “too much” money to qualify.
Opponents argue such a system is too expensive to function on a large scale and suggest Americans should avoid becoming reliant on government money.
With some cities heralding the success of GI programs, some Republican-led states have moved to ban them. States like Texas and Iowa, for example, have undermined major spending plans by pushing against GI.
3. ALAMEDA
Some families in Alameda county, California, are getting $3,000 direct payments followed by $1,000 monthly distributions for a year.
The initiative led by United Way Bay Area (UWBA) began in November 2024 and involved 100 families.
“By targeting support to these first 100 families, we want to understand how unconditional cash assistance offered alongside optional financial coaching services impact wellbeing and behavior,” UWBA CEO Keisha Browder said in a statement.
