Dear Friends,
At Howard University recently, I was honored to share the stage with a handful of legends and leaders from across the United States to discuss the transformative impact of guaranteed income programs. The data is clear: these programs lead to financial stability and empower families to pursue lives of prosperity. But even more powerful than the data are the stories.
Here in Precinct One, we know applicants who struggle to cover their basic necessities – housing, lights, water, medications – on a fixed income. We’ve heard from families staggered by unexpected losses that require family members to stop working and care for loved ones. The difference this program could make in their lives is undeniable.
In other cities, guaranteed income recipients are already sharing stories about getting their car fixed to get back to work, buying a new suit for interviews, or using the extra income to invest in upskilling themselves for better work. New mothers use the income to put their health and their baby’s health first, get through maternity leave with less stress about money, and set their new and growing family up for success.
To learn more about these stories and the potential for this program, please read an opinion piece I wrote with former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs: Guaranteed income is the ‘solution to poverty’ we need across America.
Sincerely,
Rodney Ellis