THOUSANDS have been made eligible to receive a monthly check for over a year as a method of combating poverty.
Harris County, Texas is implementing "Uplift Harris," a program that will provide eligible residents $500 a month for up to 18 months.
"For many Harris County households, a small monthly infusion of unconditional cash can make the difference between stability and deep poverty," reads the program's website.
Uplift Harris is a direct response to the record levels of inequity in the area.
The county includes Houston, Texas and is made up of a large populace.
Harris has one of the highest economic inequity rates in the country by county; over 16% of its residents live below the poverty line.
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The planned monthly payment is a system called guaranteed income which affords residents of a certain economic status unconditional income with the hopes of those in the program rising in economic to a place of better economic security.
"A guaranteed income program is an effective tool that can empower communities within Harris County by providing them with the resources they need to support their families," explains the program website.
COVID-era funding is being used to run the program, drawn from the American Rescue Plan Act that granted $20.5 million to Harris to be used for the program.
Applications are only available online and open to the first pilot cohort on January 8, 2024 and close on January 26, 2024.
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The first cohort able to apply are families in ten specific zip codes and live 200% below the federal poverty line.
The eligible zip codes are: 77050, 77093, 77051, 77060, 77028, 77033, 77026, 77081, 77547, 77091.
A second cohort of people who participate in Harris' ACCESS (Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency) program will eventually be able to apply as well.
Interested individuals can fill out an interest form that will generate an email to them when applications open.
The application and interest form are available in both English and Spanish.
GUARANTEED INCOME NATIONWIDE
Guaranteed income programs have been popping up across the country, largely due to funding made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act.
The U.S. Sun rounded up more than 40 examples of UBI, including in states like Alaska, Arizona, and Georgia.
One million has been allocated in Sacramento County, California to help 130 households with a $500 monthly payment for a year.
A single adult household must make less than $28,205, while a family with two parents and two children must earn less than $79,500 to be eligible.
The program is intended to help low-income families afford necessities.
Applications closed on October 31, and those selected will receive their first no-strings-attached payments on January 1, 2024.
The Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan introduced a new guaranteed income program this year.
The program will offer monthly payments of $528 to 100 residents.
There are no restrictions on how the money can be spent.
To launch the program, the city partnered with the University of Michigan.
“Guaranteed income programs are flourishing across our country, and they are proving to be an impactful tool to combat generational poverty, Mayor Christopher Taylor said in a statement.
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“By partnering with the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor will increase our understanding of the effectiveness of these programs, and — crucially — serve members of our community who are in need.”
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