Guaranteed Income Pilot Project

The Mayors for a Guaranteed Income network defines guaranteed income as “a monthly, cash payment given directly to individuals. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. A guaranteed income is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and can be a tool for racial and gender equity.”

Through Elevate Boulder, 200 participants will be selected to receive $500 per month in unrestricted assistance, for two years. The city anticipates opening the project application process in Fall 2023. Please do not contact city staff at this time, to inquire about the application process or timeline. Please check this webpage mid-October 2023 for updated information.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Reside in the City of Boulder;

• Be at least 18 years old;

• Have an annual income between 30 – 60% Area Median Income; and

• Have experienced hardship due to COVID-19.

We anticipate receiving a significant number of applications. A randomized lottery process, operated by the project evaluation consultant, will be used to identify participants. The city and local organizations will use media, social media, email and text communication and other outreach methods to alert community members when the application process is open.

Through this project the city hopes to improve the financial stability of participants' households; enable additional outcomes such as improved food security and mental health; and generally, improve quality of life for low-income community members. Immediate outcomes for participants may include:

• Increased ability to meet basic needs (housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare)

• Decreased debt (paying down/eliminating) or reduction in taking on additional debt

• Decreased stress, worry, anxiety, etc. over immediate expenses

By the end of the two-year pilot project, we hope that participants will also experience improved financial stability; increased savings; reduced food insecurity; improved mental well-being and improved feelings of self-determination.

Dozens of U.S. cities have already implemented direct cash assistance pilots and have experienced a wide range of benefits to community members receiving funds.

The Center for Guaranteed Income Research is working with at least 10 pilot cities to assess benefits such as enhanced maternal and child development, improved racial and gender equity, reduced income gaps, enriched family relationships and more effective youth goal setting. The Center, in partnership with the Stanford Basic Income Lab and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income also publish data from U.S. pilot projects on a public online dashboard.

Community members, businesses and organizations can donate to the Elevate Boulder Fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation Boulder County. Funds raised will help ensure that:

• Applicants receive culturally-centered assistance from diverse, professional staff

• The evaluation process is inclusive, robust and can help ensure project sustainability

• Project participants can receive a higher direct cash assistance amount, or other resources to help them achieve financial stability

Contributions to the Elevate Boulder Fund will also help city staff determine the potential for ongoing, collective community support to extend the project after the pilot phase is complete.

• Establish a Community Task Force to provide input to city staff and the project consultant on key project design elements (Dec 2022 – Jan 2023)

• Present pilot project design details to city council (Mar 2023)

• Identify potential investment partners, research partners, legal partners and other professional experts (Feb – April 2023)

• Finalize application and, technology platform, evaluation metrics and methods (Summer 2023)

• Secure partnerships with local organizations to assist with outreach and application process

• Identify investment partners to ensure successful implementation and increase the project impact (Spring – Fall 2023)

• Accept applications; select participants (Fall - Winter 2023)

• Begin payment distribution (January 2024)

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Nine community members served on a Community Task Force to provide input and guidance on key pilot project design elements. All members have experience living with low-income in Boulder and/or work with low-income community members and identify with a population that is underrepresented or underserved or experiencing systemic disparities. Task Force members are:

• Silas Atkins

• Shelby Bates

• Nicole Borrelli

• Magali Botello

• Kellie Cuevas

• Sheila Davis

• Indira Kumari

• Ruby Lopez

• Rinchen Indya Love

Task Force members met through April 2023 to advise on issues such as project outcomes; eligibility criteria; the amount, frequency and duration of cash assistance. Some are also advising on community outreach, testing the draft application, and providing input on evaluation processes.