The city of El Monte, California, is launching a guaranteed basic income (GBI) program that will provide 125 randomly selected households with $500 monthly payments for a year. The program is meant to help low-income residents who were impacted by the pandemic’s economic fallout.
The GBI program is funded by the American Rescue Act, which was passed by Congress in 2021. The program is open to households with incomes below the poverty line. Applicants must also be residents of El Monte and have been impacted by the pandemic.
More than 2,500 people applied for the program’s lottery selection prior to the April 15 deadline. The lottery began on June 1. The winners will be notified by mail in July.
The GBI program is one of several similar programs that have been launched in recent years. These programs have been shown to have a number of positive benefits, including reducing poverty, improving financial security, and increasing economic mobility.
Here are some links to learn more about the El Monte GBI program:
- City of El Monte Guaranteed Basic Income Program: https://www.ci.el-monte.ca.us/682/Guaranteed-Income-Program
- American Rescue Act: https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/
- Guaranteed basic income: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaranteed_basic_income