$200,000,000 for Cash Handouts With No Strings Attached Allocated Across US As Basic Income Trials Come To 24 States: Report

A total of 24 states across the US are testing the benefits of offering basic income with no strings attached to people and families in need.

And more than $200 million has now been reportedly allocated for various pilot programs across the country.

The state with the most basic income trials, reports Mashable, is California, with programs distributing money in Los Angeles, Compton, Long Beach, Marin County, Mountain View, Oakland, Santa Clara County, San Diego, San Francisco, Sonoma County and Stockton.

Several of those trials are fueled by a $35 million, 5-year guaranteed income initiative signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The full list of additional states that have already launched or plan to launch basic income programs is below.

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

Early results from a $1.8 million basic income trial in Denver suggest such programs can offer a safety net for people facing financial hardships.

Participants who were given $600 to $12,000 per year say they are largely using the money to cover basic needs. They also say the program is relieving stress levels and increasing the amount of hope they have for the future.

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