In 2019, Stockton, California, launched a guaranteed income program called SEED (Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration), which provided 125 randomly selected recipients with $500 per month for 24 months without any conditions.
According to the final evaluation of the program published in the "Journal of Urban Health" on April 10, the initiative was successful in improving recipients' health and well-being between 2019 and 2021.
The additional funds enabled recipients in Stockton, a town with a 16% poverty rate, to afford basic necessities like food. SEED also found that participants' mental health improved, with recipients reporting reduced anxiety and depression after one year of funding.
Overall, participants spent most of their money on food, store purchases, utilities, auto care, transportation, and medical expenses, with less than 1% spent on tobacco and alcohol.
Guaranteed income is not a new idea, having been supported by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Panther Party, and others during the Civil Rights Movement. Mayor Tubbs, inspired by King's advocacy, now leads Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), a coalition of over 80 mayors from 29 states promoting federally-funded payments.
The mayors, representing some of the most underserved and predominantly Black communities, have collectively launched 28 pilot programs, distributing $200 million in direct, unconditional relief. One such program in Compton provided 800 residents with monthly payments of $300-$600 for two years.
In late April, the MGI team will premiere "It's Basic," a documentary showcasing their efforts nationwide, featuring interviews with MGI mayors and program recipients.
