Some of Houston’s most underserved residents could get a much-needed financial boost through a new guaranteed income pilot program, but the application due date is just around the corner.
The Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a nationwide advocacy group of which Mayor Sylvester Turner is a member, is funding the program that will give $375 a month to 110 people in need for a year through the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity. The payments amount to $4,500 over a year. To qualify, you must live in Houston, be at least 18 years old and have a household income at or below the federal poverty level.
“This pilot can be game-changing for many Houstonians and a small step toward deepening equity in this city,” Turner said in a press release, according to Community Impact. “The program is a bridge to access. It creates the ability to afford quality transportation, child care, improved housing options, healthier food for families. A guaranteed income is an effective tool with proven results that can help combat economic insecurity.”
Houston follows Austin, which recently became the first city in Texas to approve a guaranteed income pilot program. At least 28 U.S. cities are trying out some variation on guaranteed income, according to The Texas Tribune, and the mayor of San Antonio is also a member of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.
The funds will be targeted toward people facing income inequity, joblessness or who are unhoused. Those who are facing barriers because they have been in the criminal justice system will also be considered, according to the fund.
“The income pilot program allows the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity to be unapologetically focused on uplifting marginalized communities via a comprehensive approach to funding that includes supporting and partnering with families for positive impact,” said Gena Jenkins, executive director of the fund, in the release.
