Sunnyvale Wants To Give Residents In Need Monthly Checks

San Jose Spotlight

November 1, 2023

Sunnyvale’s low-income residents might be receiving a financial boost from the city.

The Sunnyvale City Council is looking to pilot a guaranteed income program to support residents who are financially burdened. The councilmembers on Oct. 24 gave input on who the program should be serving, and how they would want it organized. They discussed how long the program should run and how much money would be dispersed to residents. The city council plans to finalize details in the first half of next year.

Vice Mayor Omar Din championed the idea and said he is uplifted by council’s discussion. Future discussions will feature finalizing the target demographics and other key details, but for Din, this program’s success hinges on how people can benefit.

“For me, it’s how were people’s lives changed by the funding they received,” Din told San José Spotlight. “Did it have the impact of preventing poverty or helping people who were falling into poverty?”

City officials have researched other guaranteed income programs, including one launched last year in neighboring Mountain View, which provides $500 monthly checks to 166 people. The two-year pilot program serves families and caregivers with at least one child under age 18 or pregnant women at the time of applying, and those who earn 30% or less than the area median income. In Santa Clara County, 30% of the area median income for a family of four in 2023 is $54,390.

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