With nearly 38 million Americans living in poverty, policy makers and advocates are looking for effective ways to help people struggling to pay their bills and provide for their families. One strategy that is receiving a lot of attention lately is guaranteed income programs which provide recurring cash payments β with no strings attached β to a targeted group of people. Guaranteed income programs can help those in need quickly and can fill in the gaps in the existing social safety net.
Internationally, they have consistently shown positive outcomes for individuals and families. From reducing stress and improving mental health in Finland , to boosting education and entrepreneurship in Kenya , these initiatives have enhanced overall well-being and economic stability.
In Uganda, I met a young girl who had nearly lost hope of completing her education. Her family struggled to make ends meet and school fees were an insurmountable barrier.
But thanks to a modest cash support program, Namazzi finished secondary school β becoming the first in her family to do so. Halfway across the world, in Iraq, I witnessed a similar transformation. A Yazidi woman who had returned to her war-torn homeland with little more than determination used the cash assistance she received to open a small business.
Today, that business is thriving, serving her community and restoring her sense of purpose. Cash assistance without conditions such as work requirements has been controversial in the U. A pilot program in Stockton, California was among the first to get widespread national media attention. But the number of pilot programs skyrocketed in the wake of widening income inequality during the COVID pandemic, when aid including emergency rental payments and stimulus checks made a marked difference in the lives of many Americans.
