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A pilot program in Jackson, Mississippi called Springboard to Opportunities is providing 20 single, African-American mothers living in public housing with $1000 a month, with no stipulations on how that money should be spent. The experiment so far has allowed mothers to save money, avoid predatory loans, pay off loans, and consider classes and higher education.

During the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico roughly tripled its minimum wage and instituted universal cash transfers for elderly residents and others in need, which helped reduce the number of people living under the poverty line by nearly 26 percent. But some people are still falling through the cracks and advocates say more could be done to reach the country’s most vulnerable.

Beneficiaries of a guaranteed income program in Mississippi have received monthly cash payments that they are free to spend however they need to. Known as Magnolia Mothers, the program has allowed mothers to pay off debt, invest in business, avoid predatory loans, and consider educational opportunities that can help increase their income and quality of life.

A guaranteed income pilot program in Stockton increased full-time employment rates among recipients. Cash payments improved mental health and gave participants the stability, bandwidth, and time to apply and interview for jobs.

Guaranteed income pilot programs have created a crucial safety net, especially for women of color who have experienced poverty disproportionately after the onset of the pandemic. The once-fringe idea has gained popularity following the federal government’s multiple stimulus checks that the majority of Americans have qualified for.

A study of a 1910 cash-based welfare program in the United States reveals the positive lifelong results of giving families cash to reduce poverty and prevent the long-term effects associated with it. Providing cash for families with children once resulted in a better rate of return in the form of better nutrition, higher socio-economic status and longer life expectancy. Currently, the government provides the "deserving poor" with welfare benefits such as health coverage and food aid but recipients must meet the strict requirements for eligibility.

One thousand people received $1,000 monthly payments with no strings attached for three years as part of a guaranteed income study led by the nonprofit lab OpenResearch. The participants were young, low-income Americans across Illinois and Texas, and the flexibility of the cash payments allowed them to spend more on their basic needs, have more time with their children, and improve their employment situations.

Cash payments for mothers experiencing poverty in New York City have provided a security net, helping to fill in the gaps for food and baby supplies. The guaranteed income doesn’t come with any conditions, meaning mothers were able to spend the money any way they needed too.

A concept that was popularized by MLK Jr., guaranteed basic income, will be launching in his hometown of Atlanta. Monthly cash payments have proven to be beneficial to recipients in a number of pilot programs across the world. Qualifying recipients have seen increased employment opportunities, better health outcomes, and the ability to avoid predatory debt.

A guaranteed income program is giving people the financial security to invest in themselves, avoid predatory loans, pay off debt, and improve their general quality of life. The lack of conditions on how the monthly cash payments should be utilized gives recipients the freedom to do what they need with the money.