ANOTHER US city is handing out monthly $1,000 stability checks with no strings attached.
The basic income pilot program has now been launched that will benefit over a dozen families in a first for its county.
Another US city is handing out monthly $1,000 stability checks with no strings attached[/caption]
In Ellicott City, Maryland, a guaranteed basic income (UBI) pilot program has taken flight.
Partnered with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), 20 families have been enrolled for economic assistance.
Howard County’s first UBI program will pay these 20 families $1,000 monthly for a year.
The program includes wrap-around services, meaning services related to childcare, as well as programming sessions from community partners.
Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive, announced the scheme earlier this month, praising the potential it has to support those who need it.
He said: “GBI pilot programs have been in place for almost a decade across our nation and implemented most recently by our neighboring jurisdictions.
“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.”
In preparation for the program, CAC identified 292 potential participants earlier this year.
Then, in April, this was honed to 90 families, who had to submit things like proof of residency and income.
The eligible families were then selected in June, and they had to be residents of Howard County, as well as having at least one child below the age of 18.
The 20 families live in Columbia, Laurel, Elkridge, and Savag, and are households ranging from two to five people.
AIMS OF THE PROGRAM
CAC aims to show that higher income prevent families from falling into poverty due to economic or employment changes.
At the end of the 12 months, participants should be able improve their budgeting skills and be able to pay all their expenses on time.
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.
Tracy Broccolino, President of the Community Action Council of Howard County, commented: “This pilot recognizes something that we at CAC see every day, that families are working hard but still struggling to make ends meet.
“By providing unrestricted support, we are not just easing financial burdens, we are giving families the breathing room to plan, to grow, and to pursue stability on their own terms.”
Tonya Aikens, Vice Chair of the CAC Board of Directors and President and CEO of the Howard County Library System, added that the program is a “powerful” example of community.
TERMS
Throughout the year, the participants will be surveyed on topics including quality of life, income, access to healthcare and family relationships.
At the end of the program, participants will be asked to complete a survey indicating how the additional income benefited them.
It is important to note that this is only a pilot program, and that the deadline to apply has closed.
There is also no promise on future rounds of economic support in this program at this time.
Partnered with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC), 20 families have been enrolled for economic assistance[/caption]
