Saturday, November 16

Some low-income San Diego families will receive $ 500 a month, with no strings attached


The program, which would go into effect this fall, would not require participants to go through tests or interviews

Algunas familias de bajos ingresos de San Diego recibirán $500 dólares al mes, sin condiciones
A similar pilot program study in Stockton shows its positive effects.

Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images

Some San Diego will begin receiving this fall a guaranteed minimum income of $ 500 dollars per month . The program, which has no conditions for the beneficiaries, aims to lift people out of poverty.

The project is reflected in a pilot program that the City of Stockton , California , established two years ago and sent for a year $ 500 dollars per month to 125 low-income families. Participants were not required to go through drug tests or interviews and there were no job requirements .

Not including conditions would help “ really place families in a financially stable place Says Erin Hogeboom , director of “San Diego for All Children.” This non-profit organization chaired by Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs aims to end child poverty and is the main partner of the new Guaranteed Income Project in the Region. Hogeboom believes that these revenues will revert to the local economy , as published abc News .

“Approximately on 40% of children under 12 years live in a household with income at or below the federal poverty line , ”Hogeboom explained. We are focusing on the communities in San Diego and National City that were disproportionately impacted not only by COVID but by the emerging recession, ”he added.

The researchers who studied the Sockton pilot program observed that the Full-time jobs of those who received monthly income increased by 12% , a data that leaves without its main argument to those who oppose the program.

“Contrary to some of the concerns, we saw increases in work,” said Hogeboom. “So, with this increase in income, many families were able to go to job interviews for which they may not have been able to take time off before.”

“San Diego for all the kids ”is now trying to find the $ 1.8 million needed to fund the program and working on the logistics and requirements of the participants. The organization’s idea is to raise funds that come from a combination of philanthropic, individual and government donations.