Elevate Boulder
Elevate Boulder was a City of Boulder Housing and Human Services guaranteed income pilot that gave 200 low-income households $500 per month in unconditional cash assistance for 24 months, funded with $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Participants were chosen by randomized lottery and had to reside in Boulder, be 18 or older, earn 30-60% of Area Median Income, and show COVID-19-related hardship. Payments ran from January 2024 through a final disbursement on December 31, 2025, administered via the AidKit cash-transfer platform. An evaluation by the Omni Institute found improved food/housing security and mental health but little change in employment, savings, or debt. As of mid-2026 the pilot has ended; the city and Community Foundation Boulder County are fundraising for a possible second cohort.
Guaranteed Income, ARPA-Funded, Randomized Lottery, AidKit, Colorado, Municipal Pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- City of Boulder Housing and Human Services
- City
- Boulder
- State / Province
- Colorado
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 720 713 7495
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 200
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 12,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 500 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 24 months
- Benefit details
Participants received $500 per month for 24 months (total approximately $12,000), unrestricted and usable for any purpose with no work or spending requirements. Payments were administered through the AidKit platform; the city reports 92% of participants found receiving payments 'extremely easy.' The final payment was issued on December 31, 2025. Total program cost was $3 million; a second cohort depends on raising additional private/philanthropic funds.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to reside in the City of Boulder, be at least 18 years old, earn between 30% and 60% of Area Median Income (about $30,000-$60,000 for a one-person household or $45,000-$90,000 for a four-person household), and demonstrate they had been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 200 participants were chosen from applicants via a randomized lottery run by the project's evaluation consultant. Applications were only accepted during a defined window (Oct. 30-Nov. 17, 2023); the program is not currently accepting applications.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $90,000
- Income as % of Federal Poverty Level
- 300,202,330,000.9 %
Geography
- US states covered
- Colorado
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Boulder
- Counties covered
- Boulder
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
The City of Boulder contracted the Omni Institute Center for Social Investment to evaluate the pilot through participant surveys (at enrollment, 8-month, and 20-month milestones) and focus groups (10-month milestone). Findings showed improved food and housing security and mental health, but little to no change in employment, savings, debt, or childcare/healthcare coverage. Interim (2024) and final (2025) evaluation reports are published on the City of Boulder's website.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were accepted online during a defined open window (Oct. 30-Nov. 17, 2023) via the City of Boulder's website; late applications were not accepted. The program is not currently accepting applications as of 2026.
- Selection process
Participants were selected through a randomized lottery process operated by the project's evaluation consultant (Omni Institute Center for Social Investment).
