Oakland has opened applications for its Phase 1 Guaranteed Income Program, in which families will receive $500 cash payments every month for 18 months.
The program is through Oakland Resilient Families, which is a collaboration between non-profits Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and UpTogether.
"We are concentrating in East Oakland, five East Oakland census tracts," said UpTogether CEO Jesus Gerena.
Phase 1 will offer the money to 300 families.
To be eligible, applicants must have at least one child under 18.
For a family of three, that income cap is $61,650 per year.
Oakland Councilmember Treva Reid said an additional $500 per month will make a big difference for many.
"Nearly half of our neighbors in District 6 and 7 have less than $50,000 in yearly income," Reid said. "We also see more Black and LatinX families struggling."
An additional 300 families will be selected through Phase 2, which will be open to all city residents meeting the criteria at the end of summer.
Undocumented residents are eligible, and Oakland Mayor Schaaf is encouraging them to apply. "We are taking a significant step to not only address poverty in Oakland but also establish a model that can be followed by other jurisdictions across the country, paving the way for a federally funded guaranteed income program," Schaaf said.
Guaranteed income recipients will be chosen randomly from the pool of applicants.
The deadline for Phase 1 is June 30 at 5 p.m.
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