California SOAR (Success, Opportunity, & Academic Resilience) Guaranteed Income Program
California SOAR is a proposed state guaranteed income program that would give $1,000/month for four months (May-August 2026) to public high school seniors experiencing homelessness. It would be administered by CDSS, funded by a state General Fund appropriation, distributed through opt-in counties. The enabling bill, SB 33 (2025-26), required a legislative appropriation that was never made; on January 5, 2026, SB 33 was gutted and amended into unrelated public-contracts legislation, eliminating this vehicle. Two earlier versions (SB 1341 in 2022, SB 333 in 2023-24) also failed. As of this research, SOAR has not launched and no cash has been disbursed.
Homeless youth, High school seniors, Guaranteed income pilot, Unfunded legislative proposal, California, McKinney-Vento
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- California Department of Social Services
- City
- Sacramento
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://www.cdss.ca.gov/
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 4,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 4 months
- Benefit details
As designed: $1,000/month for four months (May 1-Aug 1, 2026), totaling $4,000, funded through a dedicated SOAR Guaranteed Income Fund administered by CDSS. Participating counties would receive 10% extra for admin/outreach. Awards would not count as income for other benefits eligibility. CDE estimated ~17,000-24,000 grade-12 homeless students statewide (2023-24). Because never funded, no payments have been distributed and no distribution method was specified in legislation.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
As proposed: public school grade-12 pupils meeting the federal McKinney-Vento homelessness definition. Students could apply without parental consent regardless of age. Eligibility/funding set at county level; only opt-in counties would participate. No income/asset test in the bill. Because never funded, no students have enrolled or received benefits.
Demographics
- Education level
- High School
Housing
- Housing status
- Homeless
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / participation requirements
The enabling legislation required CDSS to work with an independent research institution to establish outcome measurements and submit an evaluation report to the Legislature, with an optional longitudinal study. No separate research obligation on individual recipients beyond participation. Never occurred since the program never launched.
Application Process
- How to apply
Under the unenacted legislation, a county homeless liaison would provide eligible grade-12 homeless students with SOAR info and an enrollment form during McKinney-Vento outreach. Forms distributed directly to eligible participants 17+, and to parents/guardians of participants under 18. No statewide online portal was described. Never actually operationalized.
- Selection process
CDSS would work with CDE to identify eligible homeless grade-12 students per county and allocate funds to opt-in counties. Not competitive/lottery-based; all verified eligible students in participating counties who submitted forms were intended to receive benefits, subject to appropriated funds. Never implemented since no appropriation was made.
