Helping Those Without Homes Through Guaranteed Income

It's essential that everyone has a place they can afford to call home. With the ongoing housing crisis, increasing evictions, and threats to people without homes, innovative solutions are needed more than ever. 

Some areas in the United States are trying out new ideas by giving people money directly, especially those who don't have stable housing.
 

What is Guaranteed Income?

Guaranteed income (GI) is when people who really need help, like those without stable housing or those with very low income, are given money regularly. 

This money, which can be anywhere from $500 to $1000 a month, does not have any strings attached. It's different from universal basic income, which would be money given to everyone. The idea is to help them with their expenses, like food, clothes, and getting around.
 

Why is Guaranteed Income Important?

Instead of making life harder for people without homes by fining or even jailing them for living on the street, GI offers a way to treat them with respect and help them get back on their feet. 

Over 150 programs across the country are now helping people with cash. The findings are showing that these kinds of programs really can help people meet their needs.


Check out: 15 Cities Where It's Still Affordable to Rent
 

The Roots of Guaranteed Income

The idea isn't new. In the past, movements for welfare rights, racial justice, and women's rights saw GI as a way to fix unfairness from the past. 

While GI can't solve all the reasons for these problems, it offers a way to start mending the damage from long-standing biases in society.
 

How We Move Forward with Guaranteed Income

Bringing in GI programs helps people have more control over their lives, makes it easier for people to get support without jumping through a lot of hoops, reduces unfair treatment in these programs, and makes sure that everyone who needs help can get it.
 

Future Steps

Looking ahead, learning from these pilots can improve other support systems. For instance, making cash assistance programs more accessible or increasing housing aid could make a big difference for older adults, people with disabilities, and families with low incomes.

The goal is to provide support that maintains people's dignity, promotes fairness, and helps everyone have a stable place to live.

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