Tejal Somvanshi
Sania Gupta
In Pomona, Los Angeles County, parents and legal guardians of young children will receive payments of $500 per month for up to eighteen months as part of an upcoming guaranteed income trial program. The Pomona Universal Household Grant Pilot Program is open for applications as of June 17 and offers benefits to parents and guardians of children under four.
The City of Pomona’s Household Universal Grant (HUG) program and FORWARD, an organization that has managed similar initiatives in Long Beach and Los Angeles County, are responsible for making the financial assistance possible. The American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021, provides funding for the experimental program. For this initiative, the city of Pomona has set aside almost $2.4 million. The $500 monthly stipend and additional resources and support services in Pomona and throughout Los Angeles County will be awarded to a total of 250 parents and legal guardians. According to the program’s administrators, recipients will benefit from increased social and economic mobility. A $20 monthly stipend will be given to a control group of 350 people, which the researchers will monitor and compare with the participants they have selected.
Parents must be residents of Pomona, be at least eighteen years old when they apply, be the parents or legal guardians of children under four or three at the time of application, and have a household income that is at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines or 65% of the area median income to be eligible for the program. Candidates must provide a completed W-9 form, identification, proof of address, and a recent pay stub. The statement from the authorities states that 250 families would get $500 monthly support for 18 months beginning in August. Children under the age of four must reside in the family. Pregnant women can also participate. They must demonstrate that they suffered a negative financial impact due to the pandemic. They must live in areas with high rental costs. They must be beneficiaries of federal security programs such as SNAP or have incomes below the area median, which is $81,150 for a family of three.
Families participating in this initiative will be able to use the funds any way they see appropriate, with no restrictions applied. However, the idea is to utilize it for additional costs associated with having a kid. It should be mentioned that the recipient families were chosen at random from 600 applications, and the government will assess the program’s outcomes before determining whether to continue it in the long run. Bonus payments of $50 will be given to both groups for filling out surveys that UCLA provided. The findings will be examined by the University of California, Los Angeles to observe how the two groups evolve. According to Business Insider, a resource and the city oversee the initiative.
Similar Posts
Over 100 basic income pilot programs across America are modeled after Pomona’s concept. Cities and counties have been providing low-income citizens with between $100 to $2,000 per month for a certain amount of time as a means of reducing poverty. The funds are free to be used in any way the participants see fit. Adrian Mahmud, executive director of FORWARD, stated that the group will make use of its “state-of-the-art technology to ensure transparency, streamline processes, and maximize the impact of every invested dollar.” According to officials, there is a 68-language online application gateway and phone, text, and email application help accessible. All prospective applicants should find the application procedure as easy and accessible as feasible, according to the organization. Similar initiatives have been attempted in several US communities, including Stockton and Compton. The Universal Pomona Household Universal Grant Pilot Program is an example of various efforts by different counties to combat poverty. More than 100 pilot projects are active through financial support in the United States. Of course, the conditions and requirements vary, although they provide between $100 and $2,000 per month for a certain period.
On the other hand, detractors claim it discourages labor. “I hear that, but all the preliminary research shows the opposite,” the mayor said. “It offers them a sense of stability and optimism. It aids in maintaining people’s stability.” In a statement, Mayor Tim Sandoval told Business Insider that the city may “extend a lifeline” to families during critical formative years. “It provides parents with the stability and resources they need to create nurturing environments for their children, setting the stage for lifelong success and well-being,” Sandoval stated. It has been demonstrated that the program increases family economic mobility, raises educational achievement, and improves health outcomes. “By sponsoring Pomona HUG, we are making a significant contribution to fostering the future of our community.”
