Guaranteed Resources Optimize Wellbeing (GROW)
GROW was a 12-month guaranteed income pilot launched in June 2023 by Philadelphia's Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO) to study how unrestricted cash affects the economic mobility of Extended-TANF (E-TANF) recipients. Fifty-one E-TANF beneficiaries enrolled in the JEVS Human Services Work Ready program received $500 per month, while a comparison group of roughly 239-250 recipients received $50 per month, for one year. The pilot was funded through public and private/philanthropic sources, with payments distributed by the Fund for Guaranteed Income (F4GI) and research conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Reinvestment Fund, and Mutual Aid Network. A Pennsylvania Department of Human Services waiver ensured payments were treated as a gift that did not affect participants' other public benefits. The pilot concluded in May 2024, with a final report released in summer 2024.
Guaranteed Income, TANF/Welfare Interaction, E-TANF, Benefits Cliff Research, Black Mothers, Workforce Development
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO), City of Philadelphia
- City
- Philadelphia
- State / Province
- Pennsylvania
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 215-685-3600
- ceoinfo@phila.gov
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 51
- Funding type
- Government, Nonprofit, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 6,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 500 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Benefit details
Treatment group received $500/month; a comparison/control group received $50/month as compensation for participation, both for 12 months beginning June 17, 2023. Total treatment-group disbursement equaled $6,000 per participant over the year. Payments were structured as a gift under a state DHS waiver so they would not count as income against other public benefits like SNAP or housing assistance. Distribution was managed by the Fund for Guaranteed Income (F4GI).
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were E-TANF beneficiaries - parents who had received TANF benefits for at least 60 months and faced circumstances preventing full-time employment. All eligible participants were required to be enrolled in JEVS Human Services' Work Ready workforce development program and reside in Philadelphia. Roughly 82% of participants were Black women; some fathers were also included. No additional income or asset limits beyond E-TANF program eligibility were specified in public sources.
Family
- Family Status
- Parent
Financial
- Currently receiving government benefits
- Required
- Employment status
- Unemployed, Underemployed
Geography
- US states covered
- Pennsylvania
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Philadelphia
- Counties covered
- Philadelphia
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Complementary program enrollment required
- JEVS Human Services Work Ready workforce development program
- Research / participation requirements
Study led by City of Philadelphia's Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity (CEO), with qualitative research by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (principal investigator David J. Pate, Jr.) and Mutual Aid Network, and quantitative research by Reinvestment Fund. The study examined how guaranteed income affects economic mobility, financial/emotional stress, and family stability for long-term (60+ month) E-TANF recipients, comparing outcomes against traditional conditional benefit programs. A final report was released in summer 2024.
Application Process
- How to apply
Not an open/public application; eligible participants were enrolled directly from JEVS Human Services' Work Ready program, which serves E-TANF beneficiaries in Philadelphia.
- Selection process
Eligible E-TANF beneficiaries enrolled in the JEVS Work Ready program were assigned to a treatment group (51 recipients, $500/month) or a comparison group (roughly 239-250 recipients, $50/month) for the 12-month study.
