Baltimore to pay young low-income families $1,000 per month, in “guaranteed income” pilot program

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Baltimore will pilot a “guaranteed income” program that will pay 200 young low-income parents $1,000 per month for two years. The funds for the program will be allocated from $4.8 million COVID-related funding the city received.

Guaranteed income program

Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott announced the pilot program during a press conference, joining 60 cities nationwide in offering a “guaranteed income.”

Compton, California launched a similar program in 2020 called the “Compton Pledge” giving eligible applicants $800 per month for two years.

The goal of the program, Scott said in a statement, is to “help combat the economic fallout from COVID-19 and assist young parents hit the hardest by the pandemic.”

The program will give 200 parents, ages 18 to 24 years old, an unconditional cash payment of $1,000 per month, over the course of two years, “to provide financial stability and reduce poverty,” according to a press release from the mayor’s office.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must live in Baltimore, be 18-24 years old, be either biological or adoptive parents or guardians, must have full or partial care-taking responsibilities and have income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level based on their household size. Eligible applicants will be put into a random lottery that will choose 200 participants.

Some of the applicants will be chosen for research studies and interviews, and storytelling cohorts to share their experiences about the program.

Applications will open at 6 a.m. Monday, May 2, and close at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 9. For more information on how to apply, vist here.