A program sending $500 monthly payments to 305 families in Sonoma County, California, will send its next payment to recipients today.
The Pathway to Income Equity pilot program selected 305 families out of 6,450 applicants. To be eligible, applicants had to have at least one child under 6 years old, have been affected in some way by the coronavirus pandemic, and have a household income of no more than 185% above the federal poverty level, according to the Sonoma County Administrator’s Office.
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“This extra income will allow them to spend more time with their families, find a better job, or improve their financial well-being, resulting in better outcomes for their kids,” said Angie Dillon-Shore, the executive director of First 5 Sonoma County, an independent public agency focused on early childhood development.
Dillon-Shore told the Washington Examiner that First 5 Sonoma County is using an “external evaluator to conduct qualitative research (surveys, interviews, and focus groups) with the participants over the two years” and that it will publish a preliminary and final report in spring 2024 and early 2025, respectively.
The program is part of an experiment to see how guaranteed income affects impoverished families. Dillon-Shore told the Washington Examiner that payments are sent on the third Wednesday of each month, meaning this month’s payment will be sent out today.
A 2021 study by United Ways of California found that 52% of Sonoma County households with children under 6 struggled to cover their family’s basic needs. The study also found that single mothers were the most likely group to struggle financially, with 67% in the county below the study’s self-sufficiency standard.
“These payments will help families with young children who are often struggling under the double burden of the high costs of housing and child care — typically the two highest household expenses,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, the chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
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“The information we gain from this pilot program will help shape future efforts to improve the health and welfare of our community,” he added.
