Title
Presentation on Rise Up Alameda (Guaranteed Income Pilot Program) 12-Month Interim Report
Body
To: Members of the Social Service Human Relations Board
Executive summary
The City of Alameda's Base Reuse and Economic Development Department will present the Rise Up Alameda (Guaranteed Income Pilot Program) 12-Month Interim Report to the Social Service Human Relations Board (SSHRB).
BACKGROUND
On May 17, 2022, the Alameda City Council (Council) directed staff to proceed with a guaranteed income (GI) pilot program. SSHRB has been involved with the pilot program from the beginning, advising on outreach initiatives and receiving staff presentations on October 7, 2022 and August 23, 2023, before the launch of the program. A member of SSHRB sits on the program's Advisory Board.
Nearly 200 cities and local jurisdictions are conducting, or have recently conducted GI pilot programs, which provide a monthly cash payment to a defined population of residents. These programs are distinct from other financial assistance programs in that they are:
* Unconditional, without a work requirement or any other conditions;
* Unrestricted, allowing individuals to determine what they need; and
* include regular payments for a period of time, rather than a one-time only grant.
This flexibility empowers recipients to make their own decisions on spending the money in a way that best meets their basic needs allowing for dignity and self-determination. The defined period of time associated with a pilot program allows valuable data to be collected, which may help inform larger policy and program development designed to alleviate poverty. Academic research has indicated that GI programs increase expenditure on education and training, improve food security, and improve measures of well-being among the recipients.
An Advisory Board has also been formed to support RUA. The Advisory Board is composed of community and advocacy organizations, individuals with lived experienc...
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