California awards $25M to guaranteed income programs across state
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The state of California announced Monday $25 million to underwrite the first state-funded guaranteed income pilot programs, which could set a standard for the entire nation.
The grant money will fund seven pilot programs around the state to provide checks to support 1,975 Californians, including former foster youth and pregnant women, with their basic needs.
“A guaranteed income is meant to sit alongside wages and to just help make ends meet,” said Natalie Foster of the Economic Security Project. The recipients will get from $600 to $1,200 a month for a period of 12 to 18 months. For pregnant women who are low income the guaranteed income will provide critical financial and emotional stress relief.
“Pregnant women have a lot of doctor’s appointments and health concerns as well as work that they juggle and having a guaranteed income, meaning checks that come in the door with no strings attached, that can be spent on whatever comes up that month are incredibly important,” said Foster.
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