MANY Americans struggling to make ends meet may soon be able to get cash in their pockets – often with no strings attached.
A number of guaranteed income programs are available in cities across the country.
Some pay up to $1,500 per month.
Several major guaranteed income programs are currently sending payments.
BIG CHECKS
One major program paying people is in Los Angeles, California.
The county’s “Breathe” program is aimed at alleviating poverty.
More than a thousand individuals are receiving checks worth up to $1,500.
Another program is in Chicago, Illinois.
There, the “Resilient Communities” program, which began in 2022, has been paying thousands of individuals.
Details on a new round of payments are expected soon.
Some guaranteed income programs are meant to help specific historically disadvantaged groups.
“In Her Hands” is an Atlanta-based program that’s paying Black women.
Meanwhile, in Sacramento, California, artists are set to be paid $850 monthly.
The Creative Growth Fellowship Program is paying 200 people for 12 months.
Sacramento has also used guaranteed income for other residents with low incomes.
A separate program there is paying families $725 a month for a year.
HOW IT WORKS
Proponents of guaranteed income say they work better at alleviating poverty than traditional welfare.
While welfare often has many strings attached like work requirements and drug testing, guaranteed income lacks these strings.
That, proponents say, makes it more efficient to run and gives people the freedom to run their lives while on the program.
Welfare also often includes strict income requirements, meaning some may lose their benefits entirely if they make too much money at work. GI gets around this trick.
Opponents argue that giving out cash disincentivizes work and may lead to dependence.
GI programs became popular nationwide after the American Rescue Plan sent billions to municipalities.
So far, programs have shown signs of success.
Newark, New Jersey recently touted its guaranteed income program after University of Pennsylvania found it improved quality of life metrics for recipients.
Some have even advocated for a universal basic income, which would pay everyone with no strings attached.
