Universal basic income (UBI) or guaranteed income, has received considerable attention in recent years as a potential solution to alleviate destitution and provide financial security.
UBI entails making regular payments to all citizens, regardless of their employment status, in an effort to reduce economic disparities and give people the freedom to pursue more meaningful lives.
States That Could Soon Provide UBI Payments
While critics are concerned about the cost and potential disincentives to work, proponents of Guaranteed Income programs argue that they have produced promising results. This article explores the US cities that have been at the forefront of instituting basic income initiatives.
Contrary to concerns about a decline in labor force participation, research conducted by institutions such as MIT and Harvard has demonstrated that UBI programs have a negligible effect on employment behavior.
Despite the absence of federal UBI programs, a number of cities in the United States have taken the initiative to test basic income programs. These cities recognize the potential of UBI to address societal issues and are actively investigating its implementation.
While the UBI debate persists, an increasing number of US cities are experimenting with basic income programs. These cities seek to combat poverty and foster a more inclusive society by ensuring the financial security of their residents.
The following locations have led the way in UBI testing, according to Marca:
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Compton, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Long Beach, California
- Mountain View, California
- Oakland, California
- Santa Clara County, California
- San Diego and National City, California
- San Francisco, California
- Sonoma County, California
- Stockton, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Gainesville, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Chicago, Illinois
- Cook County, Illinois
- Evanston, Illinois
- Gary, Indiana
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Shreveport, Louisiana
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Chelsea, Massachusetts
- Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Lynn & Roxbury, Massachusetts
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Jackson, Mississippi
- Newark, New Jersey
- Paterson, New Jersey
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Hudson, New York
- Ithaca, New York
- New York City, New York
- Ulster County, New York
- Durham, North Carolina
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Austin, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Richmond, Virginia
- Tacoma, Washington
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California Guaranteed Income Program
Beginning on Monday, Palm Springs, California’s inhabitants will receive $800 per month through a guaranteed income program.
The non-profit organizations Queer Works and DAP Health are administering the program, which began its 18-month payment schedule on May 15 after selecting 30 recipients in March.
According to Queer Works, the recipients of this program will be free to spend the monthly payments as they see appropriate. In order to qualify for this program, applicants had to earn no more than 30 percent of the median income in Riverside County, which is $16,600.
In addition, respondents were required to be clients of either Queer Works or DAP Health and to be Palm Springs residents. Recipients will be required to participate in a monthly survey study conducted by Queer Works. This program’s data will be made available every six months, with the final report anticipated in the winter of 2024.
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