Breathe: LA County's Guaranteed Income Program
Breathe is Los Angeles County's guaranteed income pilot, administered by the County CEO's Poverty Alleviation Initiative, that gave 1,000 randomly selected low-income adult residents $1,000 per month for three years, plus a second cohort of 200 former DCFS foster youth $1,000 per month for two years. It was funded by County (ARPA-era) public funds alongside several philanthropic foundations, and paired with a University of Pennsylvania Center for Guaranteed Income Research randomized controlled study. The program administrator, Strength-Based Community Change (SBCC), handled enrollment and disbursed funds via prepaid debit cards. The pilot concluded in 2025, with full research findings expected in 2027.
County-run pilot, one of the largest county guaranteed income programs, foster youth cohort, randomized controlled trial, debit card distribution
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office (Poverty Alleviation Initiative)
- City
- Los Angeles
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- (323) 736-2122
- pai@ceo.lacounty.gov
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 1,200
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 36,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 36 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card
- Benefit details
The core cohort of 1,000 participants received $1,000/month for 36 months (June 2022-2025); a second cohort of 200 former DCFS foster youth received $1,000/month for 24 months starting 2023, bringing total continuing participants to about 1,198. Payments were loaded onto prepaid debit cards; no bank account was required. In 2024 the County announced a further, separate expansion offering $500/month (or $1,500 quarterly) for 18 months to 2,000 additional former foster youth ages 18-21, which is a distinct add-on program beyond the original 1,000-person Breathe pilot described in this record. Participation in the accompanying research study was optional and did not affect eligibility for payments.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants for the main 1,000-person cohort had to be 18+, reside in an LA County neighborhood at or below area median income (AMI), have household income at/below 100% AMI (single-person) or 120% AMI (2+ persons), have been negatively financially affected by COVID-19, and not be concurrently enrolled in another guaranteed income program. Participants were chosen via random lottery from eligible applicants (with an unpaid control group also randomly selected for the research study). The separate 200-person foster youth cohort required applicants to be former LA County DCFS foster youth aged 21 to under 24 who aged out of care, plus similar income/COVID-19 criteria.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Language
- Application/materials available in English and Spanish (Respira)
Family
- Family Status
- Foster Youth
- Household size (minimum)
- 1
Health
- Health conditions
- COVID-19 (required negative financial impact from the pandemic)
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $126,700
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- Los Angeles
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Research / participation requirements
The University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR), with local/national research partners, ran a randomized controlled trial comparing a treatment group (paid participants) to a control group (unpaid, survey-only, given $30-50 gift cards per completed survey). Participation in the research surveys was optional for payment recipients and did not affect their monthly payments. Full study findings are expected to be published in 2027; interim data show the largest reported spending categories were food/groceries (~35%), retail/services (~31%), and transportation (~10%).
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were accepted only during defined open enrollment windows (e.g., initial cohort application window in spring 2022; foster youth cohort window in 2023). Applicants first completed an online eligibility screening tool, then a longer application/research survey (approx. 45-60 minutes) if eligible. In-person help was available at drop-in centers and via a program hotline. The application period is now permanently closed and the program has concluded.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants who applied during the open enrollment window were entered into a random lottery ('blind drawing') conducted by the research team (University of Pennsylvania Center for Guaranteed Income Research); timing or method of application did not affect selection odds. An additional pool of applicants was randomly selected as an unpaid research control group.
