Houston Fund for Guaranteed Income
A one-year guaranteed income pilot launched in 2022 by the Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity (Houston Equity Fund), in partnership with Mayor Sylvester Turner's office and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. 110 low-income Houston residents, many from the city's 'Complete Communities' underserved neighborhoods, received $375 per month for 12 months ($4,500 total). The program targeted residents who had experienced homelessness, justice involvement, or health-related barriers to economic stability.
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Complete Communities, City partnership, Randomized Control Trial
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Houston Fund for Social Justice and Economic Equity (Houston Equity Fund)
- City
- Houston
- State / Province
- Texas
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 713 489 3495
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Number of recipients
- 110
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 4,500 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 375 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Benefit details
Selected participants received $375 per month for 12 consecutive months, totaling $4,500 per person, with no restrictions on how funds could be used. The pilot was designed as a randomized control trial. Payments ran from approximately September 2022 through August 2023.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to be Houston residents, at least 18 years old, and have household income at or below the federal poverty level. The program especially targeted residents of Houston's 'Complete Communities' (10 historically under-resourced neighborhoods) and individuals who had experienced homelessness, justice system involvement, or health conditions/other impediments contributing to income and employment instability. Applications were open May 19-25, 2022.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
Financial
- Income as % of Federal Poverty Level
- 100 %
Geography
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Houston
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
Pilot was structured as a randomized control trial (RCT), implying selected participants and a comparison group were part of a research evaluation of the guaranteed income model.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were accepted online via the Houston Equity Fund website (houstonequityfund.org/guaranteed-income-pilot) during a limited window from May 19-25, 2022.
- Selection process
Program materials describe it as a randomized control trial (RCT) pilot with 110 participants selected from eligible applicants; specific selection mechanics beyond RCT design were not publicly detailed.
