Mount Vernon Guaranteed Income Pilot Now Accepting Applications
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard launched the Mount Vernon LEVEL UP Guaranteed Income PILOT Program.
The program will address the economic insecurity faced by Mount Vernon residents by providing $500 per month for 12 months totaling $6,000 for the year. In partnership with Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), the City of Mount Vernon has joined 60 mayors across the U.S. who have pledged to launch a guaranteed income pilot program in their respective cities.
On July 20, 2022, eligible Mount Vernon residents are invited to apply to the pilot program at 9:00 a.m. on the program’s website. To qualify, individuals are required to meet the following criteria:
- Must be a Mount Vernon resident
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Minimum income requirement of $15,000
- Must possess an income at or below 80% percent of the CDBG Annual Income Limit
The online application portal will be open for 2 weeks. Abt Associates will lead the research for the one-year pilot. The research will be comprised of individuals who will receive a guaranteed income and individuals who will not receive a guaranteed income to draw a comparison between both groups over a 12-month period.
The participants will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible applicants who meet the stated eligibility requirements and submits an application during the application enrollment period. The cash will be provided with no restrictions on how the money is spent.
“Economic security is a quintessential building block for families in Mount Vernon,” said Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. “I fully support guaranteed income for residents. I’m excited to join a coalition of innovative and forward-thinking mayors who are not afraid to push for critical resources for their community.”
Former Presidential candidate Andrew Yang touted the idea of UBI, Universal Basic Income, in his run for the White House in 2002.
