The city of Sacramento is launching a new guaranteed income program in partnership with United Way California Capital Region. The program will provide $500 per month for 12 months (for a total of $6,000) to 80 eligible households in Sacramento.
Recipients who are selected to participate in the program will begin receiving their money starting July 1, 2023.
If you are interested in receiving these funds, you will need to meet eligibility requirements and submit your application by the deadline. The program began accepting applications on March 15, 2023 and the deadline to apply is 11:59pm on April 14, 2023.
What is a guaranteed income program?
A guaranteed income program gives a select group of people who meet specific criteria (often income-based) with recurring cash payments. The money comes with no strings attached, meaning that the recipient is free to decide how to spend it.
The goal of these programs is to reduce poverty and inequality, improve health and well-being, and empower recipients to pursue their goals. The program is part of a growing movement of guaranteed income initiatives across the country that aim to address the racial wealth gap and increase equity.
The program is based on the idea that giving people cash with no strings attached can help them meet their basic needs and improve their quality of life.
Proponents of guaranteed income programs believe that people know best what they need and should be trusted to make decisions regarding how to spend the money to support themselves and their families.
People who receive these funds often spend the extra income to help pay for basic needs such as food, rent, utilities, childcare, transportation, health care, education, or emergency savings.
What are the eligibility requirements for Sacramento’s guaranteed income program?
To qualify, you must live in the city of Sacramento. You must meet household income requirements, which means you’ll need to earn less than a specific amount annually.
The best way to determine if you meet residency and income requirements is to check online at the United Way California Capital Region website dedicated to this new guaranteed income program.
This short video from KCRA 3 highlights the program’s goals, where the program receives its funding from, and how the program will work:
How to apply and deadline reminder
To apply, you will need to complete the United Way Guaranteed Income Program 23-24 application form. Be aware that the program administrators anticipate there will be many more applicants than the number of openings they have available. Because of this, they will use a lottery to select eligible participants.
Be sure to get your application in by the April 14, 2023 at 11:59 pm deadline.
What do you think about guaranteed income programs?
Critics of guaranteed income programs often say the money should have restrictions on it and recipients should prove how they spent the money. Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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