A basic income program may be coming to the city of Alameda next year.
The City Council on May 17 will consider options for such a program, which is being piloted in some form in Oakland, San Francisco and Stockton, among dozens of other cities.
Guaranteed basic income programs are meant to help people facing financial challenges. Stockton residents participating in the program have become more stable financially compared to a control group.
Research shows that program participants increase their spending on education and training, have greater food security and well-being.
Basic income programs provide a defined group of residents with a monthly cash payment that they can use to pay for anything they choose too. The payments occur for a defined period.
Stockton’s program launched in 2019. Oakland’s program launched last year.
City councilmembers will get a report from staff Tuesday on the options for an Alameda program, which could begin in the spring or summer of next year.
Councilmembers will be deciding whether to fund the pilot program with $4.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Residents can visit the city’s website to register to attend the City Council meeting by Zoom and read both the meeting agenda and the staff report on the basic income program.