A New York City shelter provider is offering 100 families payments of $1,400 for two years.
The universal basic income program was launched in May by the non-profit organization Win.
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Central Brooklyn families who are eligible to live in shelters can participate if they have children under the age of two.
One hundred families will receive a total of US$17,000 per year that they can spend without restrictions, reports Gothamist.
“This is really like the secret sauce — you’re getting this money with no strings attached, but what’s attached to it is a statement of belief in you, a statement that we know you’re the quarterback of your family, and you’re going to use that to help your family,” said Christine Quinn, CEO of Win.
“That kind of commitment, that kind of sincerity is rarely given to homeless mothers.”
Vanderbilt University will study the impact of the payments. The university believes the program will essentially end homelessness for families.
Quinn said the study’s data will be “incredibly powerful” in securing funding for similar programs in the future.
“Most of the programs that homeless people participate in are ones that treat them as if they are trying to steal from the public purse,” Quinn said.
“This program says ‘we believe in you. We have faith in you.'”
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A similar program in Evanston, Illinois, offers $500 monthly payments starting with $900,000 in financing.
Called Project 802, the program will pay 150 families without restrictions on the use of the money.
Applications for the program will be accepted until June 26th and there are specific eligibility criteria.
Families must live in Census Tract 8092, in the northwest Evanston area, to qualify for the program.
The area is half a square mile and has about 5,000 residents.
More than 20% of the population lives below the federal poverty line.
Applicants must also have a child aged five or younger and a household income at or below 184% of the Federal Poverty Line.
This is the second time the city has tested a universal income program.
Another program in Pomona, California, also pays residents $500 a month for 18 months.
A total of 250 families will be selected to participate, and they will be able to earn an extra $50 per month by completing surveys provided by UCLA.
More about the Win program
The monthly payment program will send monthly payments of $1,400 for two years.
Vanderbilt University will study the impact of the payments.
Beth Shinn, a professor at Vanderbilt in Nashville, said she hopes homelessness ends for participating families.
She told the Gothamist that other programs tend to restrict who is eligible for assistance and what they can use the funds for.
“We want to say that people should be in charge of their lives and that good things will happen when they do,” she said.
The school will study the program like Vanderbilt is studying Win’s program.
To be eligible, Pomona residents must be a parent or guardian of children three years old or younger and have a household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Registration for the program opens on June 17th.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
