City Of Louisville: Mayor Fischer And Community Partners Launch New Guaranteed Income Pilot

Louisville KY

12 February, 2022

5:21 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Louisville: February 11, 2022 Call the LOU HEALTH helpline 502-912-8598.  Look for this logo in the lower right corner on every page and click it. Mayor Greg Fischer today joined representatives from Metro United Way (MUW) and Russell: A Place of Promise (RPOP) to launch YALift! (Young Adult Louisville Income for Transformation), a guaranteed income pilot project to provide a financial foundation for young people transitioning to the working world. "It seems almost too simple to say, but the answer to poverty is money," said the Mayor. "Poverty is a lack of resources, often a systemic lack of resources, not a personal failing." YALift! will provide a one-year foundation of financial stability to 150 young people ages 18 to 24 who reside in three neighborhoods – California, Russell and Smoketown – where data shows there is concentrated poverty and large gaps in education, employment, home ownership, health and life expectancy. Leaders believe that starting in these neighborhoods will make the largest and most immediate impact, similar to the experience of other cities that have successfully implemented the pilot. Each participant will receive $500 a month for one year, no strings attached, to spend how they see fit. The payment is meant to supplement, rather than replace, current income and existing social safety net programs, and be a tool to advance racial and gender equity. Guaranteed Income projects recognize that participants are the experts on their own lives and need cash to achieve their goals. The Mayor said examples of expenditures are rent, food, school, home expenses or childcare -- "whatever allows them more flexibility in planning and building their futures." The program is structured to give young people some breathing room so they can examine and explore options and opportunities that should be part of every young life and not be out of reach because of financial obstacles. The young people in this project will apply and will be chosen at random. In addition to receiving the guaranteed income payments, they will take part in providing local data to a national collection of information about this concept's impact on people and communities. "We are motivated by the successful results from similar pilots in other cities, including increased participation in the workforce, increased wellbeing, more financially secure families, and more activity in our local economy," said Adria Johnson, President and CEO, Metro United Way. The Mayor referenced the success Stockton, Calif., has seen with their pilot program, saying, "People who received guaranteed income were twice as likely to get a full-time job as those who didn't. They also reported lower anxiety and depression, and inspired friends and families. This is innovation in action." "Guaranteed income emphasizes an individual's autonomy to make their own decisions and prioritizes the creation of a stable financial base from which to grow and thrive. Some young adults have generational wealth to lean on while others do not," said Maya White, Senior Associate for Place of Promise Initiatives, Cities United. "This investment is an income lift to help provide financial stability for our community's young adults and an opportunity for them to lay the foundations of wealth building. YALift! demonstrates the value of taking care of young adults' holistic wellbeing, and an opportunity to invest in their growth and dreams for their future."  Mayors for Guaranteed Income (MGI) was founded in 2020 by former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs and the Economic Security Project to advocate for a guaranteed income – direct, recurring cash payments – that lifts all communities, building a more resilient and just America. Louisville is the 20th city to sign up to partner with MGI on the pilot program. The program will be administered by Louisville Metro Government (LMG), Metro United Way, Russell: A Place of Promise, and MGI. LMG has contributed $100,000 to support the organizations; MUW and MGI have both contributed $500,000 to support the direct payments.  YALift! is accepting applications now through Feb. 21, 2022. To learn more and apply, visit https://metrounitedway.org/program/yalift/ Enter required fields How do you want to be reminded? (Street Sweeping requires at least an email) Reminders are sent on the Sunday before and the Friday of your Junk Set Out date. * is required. By subscribing to this reminder service you agree to the Terms of Use. To unsubscribe go to Gov Delivery. Enter your address and MyLouisville will find nearby city services in the following categories: Find your garbage, recycling, yard waste and large-item set-out dates. Sign up for large-item set out and street sweeping reminders by email and text! No form has been selected. Popular Pages Popular Tools This press release was produced by the City of Louisville. The views expressed here are the author's own.