A nonprofit focused on guaranteed income programs is hoping to secure a lasting policy backed by taxpayer funds in California, which already has $1.3 trillion in funding. This information comes from a report that suggests all eyes will be on an investigation airing on FOX News soon.
The Economic Security Project (ESP), established in 2016, comprises a group of around 100 entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and philanthropists aiming to facilitate direct financial assistance to individuals. ESP has initiated over 100 guaranteed income pilot programs throughout the U.S.
Now, the California branch, known as Economic Security California (ESC), is pushing to create a permanent income guarantee program. They mentioned an intention to transition away from temporary cash pilots towards a more expansive and modern direct cash initiative.
California currently leads the U.S. with the highest number of guaranteed income programs, having launched more than 60 pilots, according to recent reports.
ESP highlighted on its website that “as California builds a permanent geographic infrastructure, future research and policy solutions should explore how guaranteed income can complement existing public benefit programs.”
They also suggested that government agencies investigate various public funding options, such as dedicated local taxes, to turn investments into direct cash support.
The organization referenced programs like “Breathe,” an income guarantee initiative in Los Angeles County funded by taxpayers, akin to other cities that have utilized the American Rescue Plan Act. In 2022, the Breathe pilot selected 1,000 participants to receive $1,000 monthly for three years. The program will expand this year, choosing 200 additional former foster youths in Los Angeles County for a two-year, $1,000 monthly stipend.
With federal funding from the American Rescue Plan decreasing, cities are increasingly looking for alternative revenue sources.
For example, following a pilot in 2022, Chicago’s Cook County, the second largest county in the U.S., is set to implement a permanent guaranteed basic income program, having approved $7.5 million for it in November 2025.
Proponents of guaranteed income argue it’s a necessary approach to tackle issues surrounding affordability in America. Michael D. Tubbs, a former mayor of Stockton, California, and president of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, mentioned earlier this year that periodic cash support is essential for low-income Americans struggling with rising essential costs like rent and groceries.
