Providence Launches Guaranteed Income Pilot Program

PROVIDENCE, RI — Selected Providence residents are the first to receive guaranteed monthly income payments through the city's new pilot program. The 110 chosen residents will receive monthly payments of $500 for the next 12 months.

The city received more than 4,000 applications for the pilot program, which was announced in July. Last month, the chosen residents received their first payment.

As part of the Providence Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, the city is expanding its public benefits counseling program to all interested Rhode Island residents. Counseling sessions are available weekdays at Amos House from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or at Dorcas International from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sessions last 30 to 45 minutes and are available in English or Spanish in person or virtually. Participants should have an understanding of their income and the benefits they currently receive. To schedule an appointment, call Amos House at 401-272-0220 or Dorcas International at 401-784-8600.

"I am thrilled to be announcing these critical milestones as part of the Providence Guaranteed Income Pilot program," Mayor Jorge Elorza said. "Through our application process, we have seen the critical need by our residents for direct financial assistance. Thanks to our many partners, first payments have already been provided to 110 Providence residents enrolled in this program and the important corresponding benefits counseling that is needed. Additionally, I am excited that the benefits counseling modeled after our program will now be expanded to even more individuals in need."

The city partnered with Amos House, Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, ONE Neighborhood Builders, the Rhode Island Foundation, the United Way of Rhode Island and other community orgnaizations to design the program. Elorza joins dozens of mayors from across the country in the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income initiative, a coalition of mayors who pledged to explore direct cash payments to residents in need.

Providence received $500,000 for the program from Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Square, along with financial support from local groups, totaling $1.1 million to fund the cash payments and other costs associated with the pilot program.

During the pilot, the city is working with the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania to evaluate the program. According to the center's research, the average monthly income of selected participants is $913 per month. More than three quarters are male, and 45 percent of participants are Hispanic or Latino, 31 percent are white, 19 percent are Black, 5 percent are Asian and 38 percent identified as another race. Over 60 percent have children under 18, and the median participant age is 39 years old.

"We must deal with barriers to economic security head on and boldly," said Neil Steinberg, the president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. "Closing the well-documented wealth gap and tackling long-standing inequities faced by communities of color requires committed partners and innovative programs like this one. We are glad to do our part by providing the resources and leadership to help make this pilot a success for the recipients and our community."

Learn more about the program online, or by calling 311.