There are currently 6 guaranteed income pilot programs distributing cash in Washington, DC, with 2 planning to launch payments in the near future. Keep reading to learn more about DC’s guaranteed income programs, past, present, and future.
PAST
THRIVE East of the River – Launched by four community-based organizations, THRIVE East of the River provided emergency cash relief of $5,500 to households in Wards 7 and 8 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, THRIVE distributed $3.2 million to 605 households. According to an Urban Institute report published in February 2022, THRIVE participants reported substantially better mental health and lower rates of housing and food insecurity than other people with low incomes, both nationally and in DC, after receiving the cash payments.
PRESENT
ARISE | City of Alexandria – Through Alexandria’s Recurring Income for Success and Equity (ARISE) program, 170 City of Alexandria residents who are at or above the Area Median Income will receive $500 a month for two years. Applications closed November 11th, and payments will begin in January 2023.
More info: https://www.alexandriava.gov/ARISE | 703-746-6400 | guaranteedincome@alexandriava.gov
Arlington’s Guarantee | Arlington Community Foundation – Through Arlington’s Guarantee, 200 Arlington households with children under 30% AMI will receive $500 a month for 16 months, as well as optional one-on-one coaching. Most recipients are currently on local housing grants, 25 are returning from incarceration, and 25 are undocumented. Payments began in 2021 and will continue through November 2023.
More info: https://www.arlcf.org/arlingtons-guarantee/ | avorderbruegge@arlcf.org
Let’s GO DMV! – Let’s GO DMV! is currently providing $1,000 a month to 75 hospitality workers who became unemployed or underemployed due to COVID-19. Payments began in March of 2022 and will continue for five years.
More info: https://www.letsgodmv.org/ | (202) 939-3390
MoCo Boost | Montgomery County – MoCo Boost (Building Our Opportunities and Strength Today) is currently providing $800 a month to 300 Montgomery County households for two years. The program has already launched, and recipients include 100 households recently served by the Montgomery County Homeless Continuum of Care
More info: https://mocoboost.org/
Steve Thomas Guaranteed Income Project | National Coalition for the Homeless – The Steve Thomas Guaranteed Income Project provides $1,000 a month for twelve months to housing-insecure DC residents. The program will enroll up to 100 participants, with an end date of October 2023.
More info: https://nationalhomeless.org/steve-thomas-guaranteed-income/ | (202) 462-4822
Strong Families, Strong Futures | Martha’s Table – Strong Families, Strong Futures DC is currently providing cash to new and expecting mothers below 250% of the federal poverty level residing in DC Wards 5, 7 and 8. Mothers in the program could choose to receive either $900 for 12 years or $10,800 all at once, with most opting for the latter. The first payments were disbursed in May of 2022 and will continue through May of 2023. Funded with a grant from the Office of Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, this program marks DC’s first publicly funded cash transfer program. The application closed in March 2022, but Martha’s Table is currently fundraising for future cash transfer programs.
More info: https://marthastable.org/sfsf/ | sfsf@marthastable.org
My Sister’s Place Cash Transfer Program – Through their cash transfer program, My Sister’s Place plans to provide $500 a month for two years to 45 singles and families fleeing domestic violence. They are currently fundraising to increase their monthly payments to $1,000 a month and are planning to begin enrollment in early 2023. Read their press release here!
More info: https://www.mysistersplacedc.org/programs-and-services/ | (202) 540-1064
NEAR FUTURE
MotherUp | Mother’s Outreach Network – For Black mothers living in DC who are below a certain income threshold and have an open case with the DC Child and Family Services Agency, Mother’s Outreach Network is planning to disburse $500 a month for three years. Before launching their full three-year pilot, they will launch a 20-person “pre-pilot” in early 2023.
More info: https://mothersoutreachnetwork.org/mother-up-pilot/ | (202) 818-8649 | pilot@mothersoutreach.org
FAR FUTURE
CashRx | Bread for the City – Bread for the City is currently developing its CashRx direct cash assistance program. The program will focus on the social determinants of health to reach those most impacted by poverty.
More info: https://breadforthecity.org/
Fairfax County Guaranteed Income Pilot – Fairfax County recently allocated $1.5 million of its American Rescue Plan Act funding to developing a guaranteed income program for Fairfax County residents. The program is currently in development.