The mayor's office announced that Salem will join the list of Massachusetts cities that have introduced programs that provide unconditional cash payments to low-income residents.
City government and California-based organizations together As part of a study conducted by Salem State University, 100 applicants will be selected to donate $500 a month for one year, Mayor Dominic Pangaro announced. statement.
An additional 100 people will be selected to participate in the study as a comparison group and will also be compensated for answering questions from the university, WCVB. reported.
The mayor's office said, “Participants can use the cash as they wish.''
Pangaro said he hopes the study will lead to more support for other similar programs.
I am pleased to announce the launch of Uplift Salem, a guaranteed income pilot program that directly addresses poverty in our communities and contributes to the growing national evidence on the effectiveness of this type of initiative. We want Salem to be an affordable place for everyone, and the Guaranteed Income Program provides an innovative approach to achieving that goal. The results of this year-long effort build momentum for increased state and federal support for these programs and, most importantly, uplift some of our most vulnerable neighborhoods right here in Salem. I hope it becomes.
Pangaro is part of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a network of dozens of mayors across the country that provide free cash assistance to needy individuals and households.
Applications for the program will open on October 28 and will run for two weeks or until 350 eligible applicants apply.
The first payments are expected to be sent out by December 1, officials said.
“We know that guaranteed income helps families achieve financial mobility. They know what's best for their family and can be trusted to make decisions that move their family forward.” ,” added UpTogether CEO Jesús Llerena.
The program will be funded with a combination of funding from the Biden-Harris administration. American Rescue Plan Act There will also be individual donations from UpTogether, bringing the total amount up to $685,000.
and the cities of Cambridge, Chelsea, and Worcester in Massachusetts. launched It has offered a guaranteed income program for the past three years, according to CBS News.
In Chelsea, 2,200 “highly food insecure” families were given $400 a month for nine months, despite help from the Harvard Kennedy School. analysis They found that only 65 percent of money is spent in places selling food.
Boston has not yet followed suit, but the administration of progressive Mayor Michelle Wu (D) is “exploring” the possibility of starting a similar program, CBS said. reported In November 2023.
