College Engaged Adults (College-Engaged Young Adults Guaranteed Income Pilot)
The City of San Jose partnered with the Bill Wilson Center and San José City College to provide guaranteed income to college students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Up to 55 college-engaged young adults (ages 18-24) received monthly unconditional cash payments for a minimum of 18 months, beginning around summer 2024. The program is one of several coordinated pilots in the Santa Clara County regional guaranteed income movement tracked by guaranteedincomesv.org, alongside similar pilots for foster youth, LGBTQIA+ young adults, and other vulnerable populations. It was publicly funded through the City of San Jose, with participants selected via referral from partner organizations rather than an open application.
Guaranteed Income, Community College Students, Youth Homelessness, Housing Insecurity, Santa Clara County Regional GI Movement, Referral-Only Enrollment
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- City of San Jose
- City
- San Jose
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://www.sanjoseca.gov/
- Phone
- +1 408-535-3500
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 55
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 19,800 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,100 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 18 months
- Distribution Type
- Check
- Benefit details
Participants reportedly received a monthly, no-strings-attached cash stipend for a minimum of 18 months. The earliest public announcement (Nov. 2023) described the amount as $1,000/month for up to 50 students; seed data for the finalized cohort lists $1,100/month for 55 participants, which we could not independently verify. Funds were reportedly disbursed by check via Meriwest Credit Union, a detail also not independently confirmed. The program aimed to help unhoused or housing-insecure San José City College students stay enrolled and complete their education.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were San José City College students, roughly ages 18-24, who were experiencing homelessness or housing, food, or transportation insecurity, described as "college-engaged" and otherwise vulnerable young adults. Enrollment was by referral through the Bill Wilson Center and San José City College only; there was no open public application.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Maximum age
- 24
- Education level
- Associate
Housing
- Housing status
- Homeless
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- San Jose
- Counties covered
- Santa Clara
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Research / participation requirements
The program is tracked as part of the Santa Clara County regional guaranteed income movement (guaranteedincomesv.org), which notes that independent research experts are evaluating each pilot in the county and that some pilots use a randomized control group model with additional participants compensated for sharing data. It is unclear whether recipients in this specific cohort were required to participate in research; seed data lists the final evaluation as 'TBD 2026 internal/informal study,' and no published evaluation report was located.
Application Process
- How to apply
There was no open/public application. Enrollment was entirely by referral through partner organizations — San José City College and the Bill Wilson Center — which identified and referred eligible homeless/housing-insecure, college-engaged young adults into the program.
- Selection process
Participants were selected via referral from San José City College and the Bill Wilson Center based on enrollment status, housing insecurity/homelessness, and vulnerability, as part of the broader City of San Jose / Santa Clara County guaranteed income initiative.
