ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA - BASIC INCOME PILOT

#TrickleUp #MuteTheMedia #CrowdfundBasicIncome #IncomeMovement #SupportAct #UBI

Tonight we are talking about basic income and we are going to start off talking about Alexandria, VA. With a population of around 160,000 people and a poverty rate of 8.6% or 1 in 12 people living in poverty, the city of Alexandria has decided to launch a guaranteed basic income pilot. With federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act the city has devised an allocation plan that includes a recovery goal ‘Everyone has access to the basics’ which includes investing funds to boost early childhood care, housing and food security, and provide a guaranteed basic income to 150 families. The allocation plan states that “a monthly cash transfer of $500 on a pre-loaded debit card would be provided to approximately 150 families for 24 months. Participants would be supported through case management to help families establish goals, navigate systems, and fully participate in the pilot. A research partner will assist with the monitoring of outcomes and assess the program’s impact. This would provide a comprehensive understanding of if/how participants achieve greater economic stability and the implications for future investments in programs designed to reduce poverty. In addition, research partners would help surface insights that will lead to improvement in Alexandria’s human services systems.” The total cost of the guaranteed basic income pilot is estimated to cost $3 million. The city of Alexandria received more than $59 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. This is not unlike “a similar pilot program [that] took place recently in Stockton, California. A study in March of those involved with the program showed participants transitioned to full-time jobs and had better health.” The 150 families mirrors that of yet another recent proposed basic income pilot in Los Angeles, California where 150 young adults will be given a basic income of about $1200 a month for 3 years.