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California Launches First Guaranteed Income Program

by ECT

The California Department of Social Services will be awarding more than $25 million in grant funding to seven guaranteed income pilot projects across the state – direct cash assistance monthly payments of $600 to $1,200 will be going to at least 1,975 Californians, including transition age foster youth and pregnant women.

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) made the following statement regarding this launch of California’s first state-funded guaranteed income program – the “California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program”:

I am pleased to see the legislative framework we proposed, modeled after our successes in Santa Clara County, be implemented statewide so that families can meet their basic needs and achieve stability and success. Through the Governor’s leadership, the state is leading the nation in providing new opportunities for individuals to exit poverty and advance themselves.”

Senator Cortese authored SB 739 (2021), The Universal Basic Income for Transition Age Foster Youth Act and SB 1341 (2022) the California Success, Opportunity, and Academic Resilience (CalSOAR) Guaranteed Income Program. SB 739 was incorporated into last year’s budget through the state’s first-of-its-kind investment of $35,000,000 in the “California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program”, while SB 1341 is moving forward as a district pilot program to serve unhoused students in Santa Clara County through guaranteed income.

In 2020, Senator Cortese led the creation of Santa Clara County’s first-in-the-nation universal basic income program to serve transition age foster youth


California Announces First State-Funded Guaranteed Income Program

Grants to fund pilot programs throughout California will provide cash payments to support the basic needs of pregnant individuals and former foster youth

1,975 Californians – including former foster youth and pregnant women – will receive anywhere from $600-$1,200 per month

SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced its intent to award more than $25 million in grant funding to seven guaranteed income pilot projects across the state. These pilots will provide unconditional, individual, regular cash payments intended to disrupt poverty, advance equity, and support the basic needs of recipients. These State-funded pilot programs will serve approximately 1,975 individuals across California with monthly payments ranging from $600-$1,200 per month, for a period of 12-18 months. All pilots will participate in program evaluation activities led by the Urban Institute and the University of California, Berkeley.

The CDSS intends to issue funding in the following amounts to these organizations:

  •  Expecting Justice (Heluna Health DBA Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc.) in the amount of $5,000,000. Pilot will provide 425 pregnant individuals who are disproportionately impacted by perinatal health disparities with $600-$1,000 per month for 12 months.
  • Inland Southern California United Way in the amount of $5,000,000. Pilot will provide 500 pregnant individuals and 150 former foster youth with $600 per month for 18 months.
  • iFoster, Inc. in the amount of $4,763,010. Pilot will provide 300 former foster youth with $750 per month for 18 months.
  • Los Angeles Section National Council of Jewish Women, Inc. in the amount of $3,681,949. Pilot will provide 150 pregnant individuals who have diabetes with $1,000 per month for 18 months.
  • San Francisco Human Services Agency in the amount of $3,300,000. Pilot will provide 150 former foster youth with $1,200 per month for 18 months.
  • McKinleyville Community Collaborative in the amount of $2,354,841. Pilot will provide 150 pregnant individuals with $1,000 per month for 18 months.
  • Ventura County Human Services Agency in the amount of $1,500,000. Pilot will provide 150 youth former foster youth with $1,000 per month for 18 months.

For additional information and future updates on the pilots, please visit the following CDSS webpage.

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