Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI2) Pilot Program
GBI2 is the second phase of Howard County's guaranteed income pilot, led by the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) in partnership with Howard County Government. It provides 25 eligible families with $500/month in unrestricted cash for 12 months, plus an additional $500/month deposited into a savings account released in July 2027 upon completion of a financial literacy program. It builds on GBI1 (20 families, $1,000/month, no savings component) launched in 2025. The program is publicly funded by Howard County Government and administered by CAC.
Guaranteed Income, Forced Savings Match, Financial Literacy, Two-Generation, Howard County, GBI2
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC)
- City
- Columbia
- State / Province
- Maryland
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://cac-hc.org/gbi2/
- Phone
- +1-410-313-6440
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 25
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 12,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit
- Benefit details
Participants receive $500/month in unrestricted cash for 12 months. An additional $500/month is deposited into a savings account at a local bank/credit union on the participant's behalf. This matched savings amount (up to $6,000) is released in July 2027, but only after the participant completes a financial literacy program through a designated CAC partner by June 2027. Participants must also meet monthly with CAC staff. GBI1 (2025) alumni were separately offered an opt-in to receive the $500/month savings match for an additional six months.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants must live in Howard County for the full duration of the program, have at least one child age 17 or younger in the household (as biological/adoptive parent or guardian with caretaking responsibility), and have household income between 150% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Applicants must not currently receive income-based housing assistance (Housing Choice Voucher, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership, Moderate Income Housing Unit property, or tax credit housing). Selection is via lottery if applications exceed available slots (25 slots for this round), and selected households must submit proof of lease/mortgage, ID, income, and guardianship within 14 days.
Family
- Family Status
- Parent
- Number of dependents (minimum)
- 1
Financial
- Currently receiving government benefits
- Disqualifying
Geography
- US states covered
- Maryland
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- Howard
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Financial Literacy Program (required, through designated CAC partner, to be completed by June 2027 to unlock matched savings)
- Research / participation requirements
Program is administered by the Community Action Council of Howard County in partnership with Howard County Government. Participants must meet monthly (in person or virtually) with CAC staff and complete a financial literacy program by June 2027. Findings from GBI1 (Phase One) showed 78% of participants used funds to pay down debt and maintain rent payments, informing GBI2's added financial literacy/savings-match design.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were submitted online via cac-hc.org/gbi2/. The application window for this GBI2 cohort was open April 24, 2026 through May 29, 2026 at 4 PM; only one application per household was allowed. The application window is now closed.
- Selection process
If applications exceed available program slots, a lottery is conducted to randomly select applicant households (conducted in early June 2026 for this cohort). Selected applicants must submit proof of income, residency (lease/mortgage), ID, and guardianship documentation within 14 days or forfeit their spot to the next household on the waitlist.
