How Elevate Boulder is Transforming Participants' Lives, In Their Own Words

Every day across Boulder, an estimated one in four Boulder households does not have enough income to meet basic needs. Elevate Boulder, the city’s guaranteed income pilot, was designed to meet this challenge head-on. Over the past two years, Elevate Boulder has done more than help people pay bills; it has restored dignity, created breathing room, and opened doors to long-term possibilities.

Earlier this year, five Elevate Boulder participants attended an in-person workshop to learn how to put their stories into writing. Below is an overview of what participants shared. We invite you to read the full collection of participant stories on the city’s website.

For many participants, financial stability became a foundation for something they hadn’t felt in years – peace of mind. One participant, Kellie, described entering the program at a moment when hope felt far away. “Saving for tomorrow feels crazy when you don’t have enough for today,” she wrote. With the support of Elevate Boulder, Kellie was finally able to invest in a retirement plan, something she once believed she would never achieve. “Because of Elevate Boulder,” she said, “I have hope.”

Participants also shared about the emotional weight that lifted when the constant financial pressure eased. Before the program, many were juggling multiple jobs, skipping medical visits, or pushing aside personal goals because survival left no space for anything else. The monthly support became not only a lifeline, but a source of relief.

For parents, that relief translated into more time with their families. Pauline, a single mother of two, described how Elevate Boulder allowed her to leave one of her two jobs and spend evenings cooking, helping with homework, and simply being present. “It gave me dignity, peace of mind, and the chance to build a better life for my family,” she shared. Time became a gift she could give her children.

Martha used her monthly payments to stabilize her household after years of pandemic-related setbacks and rising expenses. Even while juggling multiple jobs and unexpected debts, she found a renewed sense of possibility. “It has been a great relief and comfort to know that I don’t have to worry next month,” she wrote. With support covering crucial bills like her car payment and insurance, she could finally focus on moving forward rather than falling behind.

These stories paint a powerful picture of what’s possible through unrestricted cash assistance. As payments started coming in and financial pressures eased, participants invested in their families, careers and wellbeing.

• Read Their Stories

If you believe in the power of guaranteed income, you can join the city to help make sure Elevate Boulder can continue to provide unrestricted direct cash assistance past the pilot phase. Please consider supporting the future of this work through the Elevate Boulder Fund.

Want to see more stories? Elevate Boulder participants also worked to compile their stories through video, photography and through a narrative performance with Motus Theater. Check out these stories on the city’s website.