States solves—tons of local examples prove.

California: Compton Pledge. The second-largest guaranteed income pilot in the U.S. at present, this cash transfer program serves residents of the City of Compton with unconditional monthly payments. Program start: 2020. Payment amount: Around $450. Payment frequency: Monthly or bi-monthly (depending on participant). Program duration: Two years, ends 2022. Eligibility and application: Applications are not currently available as the program is in progress. How it’s funded: Philanthropically funded through private donors. Number of participants: 800. Big Leap. Currently the largest city-based guaranteed income pilot in the U.S., Big Leap provides unconditional direct cash transfer payments to low-income residents in the City of Los Angeles. Program start: 2022. Payment amount: $1,000. Payment frequency: Monthly. Program duration: 12 months. Eligibility and application: Eligible applicants must 18+, have at least one dependent child, reside in the City of Los Angeles, demonstrate Covid-related hardship and have income that falls at or below the federal poverty level. Participants were randomly selected from eligible applicants. Applications are currently closed. How it’s funded: $38 million in City of Los Angeles taxpayer funds. Number of participants: 3,200. Colorado: Denver Basic Income Project. With money coming from a nonprofit fund established in April 2021, this cash transfer program seeks to end the cycle of poverty by reducing housing and income volatility, including pathways to stable employment. Program start: Pending. Payment amount: Varies. Participants will either receive $6,500 in upfront payments plus a monthly payment of $500, monthly payments $1,000 per month, or monthly payments of $50 per month. Payment frequency: Monthly. Program duration: 12 months. Eligibility and application: Program participants will be selected by random lottery, but Denver residents can review the eligibility criteria on the program’s website. Applications aren’t yet open but the program anticipates “recruiting participants and launching the program in the first half of 2022.” How it’s funded: Philanthropically funded by a mix of private, corporate and foundation donors. Number of participants: 820. Florida: Just Income Gainesville. This cash transfer program serves formerly incarcerated people who are residents of Alachua County, Florida. Program start: Jan. 2022. Payment amount: $1,000 lump-sum payment then $600 monthly for 11 months. Payment frequency: Monthly. Program duration: One year. Eligibility and application: Eligible applicants were limited to formerly incarcerated persons with felony convictions, residency in Alachua County, and a submitted application. Participants were randomly selected from those who qualified. Applications aren’t currently available as the program is in progress. How it’s funded: Philanthropically funded by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and Spring Point Partners. Number of participants: 115. Georgia: In Her Hands. In Her Hands is an initiative benefiting Georgia women, and is one of the largest cash transfer pilot programs in the South. Program start: Pending – applications are open. Payment amount: $850. Payment frequency: Monthly. Program duration: Two years. Eligibility and application: The program is open to women 18 and older who live in certain geographical areas, have income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($27,180 for individuals), and can prove economic setbacks due to Covid. Applications are rolling out on a by-community basis and can be found on the application page. You can sign up for the interest list to be notified about future opportunities. How it’s funded: $13 million philanthropically funded by the Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund. Number of participants: 650. Illinois: Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot. This cash transfer program ranks as one of the nation’s largest. According to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the program seeks to “tackle poverty and put residents at the center of the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.” Program start: Pending – applications are open. Application deadline: May 13, 2022. Payment amount: $500. Payment frequency: Monthly. Program duration: 12 months. Eligibility and application: Eligible applicants must be 18 or older, live in the City of Chicago, have demonstrated hardships due to Covid, and have an income that falls at or below 250% of the federal poverty level ($40,770 for individuals). There’s an income calculator to help determine your eligibility. Participants will be selected by random lottery. How it’s funded: $31.5 million in federal Covid relief funds allocated by Chicago’s city council. Number of participants: 5,000. Louisiana: Shreveport Guaranteed Income Program. The results of this limited-scope cash transfer program are intended to help lobby for future programs at the state and federal level. Program start: Feb. 2022. Payment amount: $660. Payment frequency: Monthly. Program duration: 12 months. Eligibility and application: Eligible applicants included Louisiana residents who are single parents (you can review their definition) and residents of Shreveport with incomes at or below 120% of the federal poverty level. Applications are now closed and the program is in progress. How it’s funded: Philanthropically funded by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and Caddo Parish Commission. Number of participants: 110. New Jersey: Newark Movement for Economic Equity. Newark’s guaranteed income pilot program is designed to support city residents experiencing housing instability. Program start: Fall 2021. Payment amount: Two semi-annual payments of $3,000 or bi-weekly payments of $250. Payment frequency: Semi-annual or bi-weekly (randomly selected). Program duration: Two years. Eligibility and participation: While applications for the project are currently closed, previous applicants must be at least 18 years old; live in the City of Newark; demonstrate income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line; and document adverse impacts from the Covid pandemic. How it’s funded: A mix of public and private funds, including federal Covid relief dollars. Number of participants: 430 to date. New York: The Bridge Project. As New York City’s first guaranteed income project, this cash transfer program supports low-income mothers during the first 1,000 days of their child’s lives in one of the nation’s most expensive cities. Program start: June 2021. Payment amount: $500 or $1,000. Payment frequency: Biweekly. Program duration: 3 years. Eligibility and application: To be eligible, households had to show incomes below $52,000 per year. Applications are currently closed. How it’s funded: Philanthropically by the Monarch Foundation. Number of participants: 600 to date.