20 Families Receive Boost From Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Officials have launched Howard County's first transformative Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program.

The program is being carried out by the county and the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC). Through this initiative, CAC has enrolled 20 families in a program that offers monthly economic assistance, wrap-around services and programming sessions from community partners.

Through this pilot program, CAC provides participating families with $1,000 per month for 12 months to prioritize household needs that will help improve overall economic stability.

“GBI pilot programs have been in place for almost a decade across our nation and implemented most recently by our neighboring jurisdictions,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at a news conference kicking off the pilot program. “These impactful programs have demonstrated long-term positive impacts not only on families’ economic stability but also on their emotional availability as parents. Howard County’s GBI pilot program aims to diminish and uplift families out of poverty, better their lives and enable them to be more self-sufficient. Through data collection and key outcome measures, this pilot program will inform future county strategies to promote economic mobility and self-sufficiency.”

Data indicates that families who participate in GBI programs experience reduced financial volatility and increased capacity to pay for core expenses such as food, rent and transportation, while planning for the future. Howard County’s GBI pilot program relies on local community partners and data-informed research to create new pathways for economic mobility for those enrolled in the program, officials stated.

CAC identified 292 potential participants earlier this year. In April, this targeted group was surveyed to determine eligibility and 90 families were chosen to move forward in the selection process. These families then had to submit proof of residency, plus income and household demographics weekly to CAC. In June, eligible families were selected, waitlisted via a lottery and required to submit the remaining required documentation by June 20 to confirm GBI pilot program eligibility.

To be eligible for the program, families:

• Had to be Howard County residents;
• Have at least one child in the household is below the age of 18;
• A current client of CAC’s programming, i.e.:
  *A child in the household was enrolled in CAC’s Early Children Education Program during the 2024-25 school year;
  *Received energy and/or housing assistance from CAC in the past year;
• Energy and/or housing assistance may have been denied if household income exceeded program limits;
• Not currently on an income-based housing voucher or housing subsidy; and
• Have a reported household income between 150 and 300 percent of fiscal year 2025 federal poverty limits based on household size.

The GBI pilot program was funded through a $750,000 nonprofit grant to CAC approved in the county’s fiscal year 2025 operating budget. Funding for this first phase of the pilot will cost approximately $250,000, and the program outcomes will inform extension and expansion of the pilot program, leaders stated.

“This pilot recognizes something that we at CAC see every day, that families are working hard but still struggling to make ends meet. By providing unrestricted support, we are not just easing financial burdens, we are giving families the breathing room to plan, to grow, and to pursue stability on their own terms. It’s a powerful investment in dignity and possibility,” said Tracy Broccolino, president of the Community Action Council of Howard County.

The 20 participating families reside in Columbia, Laurel, Elkridge and Savage, with household sizes ranging from two to five people. All participating families have children with an age range of infants up to 17 years old.

“This pilot is a powerful example of what’s possible when community organizations, local government, and families come together to address real challenges with practical, people-first solutions. By meeting families where they are and providing the flexibility to respond to their unique needs, we’re demonstrating how partnership, trust, and shared responsibility can help strengthen household stability and community well-being,” said Tonya Aikens, vice chair of the CAC Board of Directors and president and CEO of the Howard County Library System.