Ithaca Guaranteed Income
Ithaca Guaranteed Income (IGI) was a randomized-controlled-trial guaranteed income pilot launched in June 2022 by then-Mayor Svante Myrick in partnership with Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI). It was administered locally by the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County and provided 110 unpaid caregivers in the City of Ithaca with $450 per month for 12 months via a prepaid debit card. The pilot was funded through philanthropic/nonprofit contributions coordinated through the MGI network. The University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) designed and conducted the independent evaluation. The pilot concluded in May 2023, and CGIR published a full outcomes report.
Caregivers, Unpaid Caregivers, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Randomized Control Trial
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County
- City
- Ithaca
- State / Province
- New York
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://hsctc.org/
- Phone
- +1 607 273 8686
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 110
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic, Research Pilot
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 5,400 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 450 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card
- Benefit details
Recipients received $450 per month, unconditionally, for 12 months, loaded onto a prepaid debit card. Total benefit over the course of the program was $5,400 per participant. Payments began June 2022 and concluded May 2023. No restrictions were placed on how funds could be spent; spending data showed the largest categories were food/groceries, retail sales and services, and financial transactions.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligible participants were primary unpaid caregivers—defined broadly to include those caring for a dependent child or for an aging or disabled adult (in or out of their home, including parents, family members, guardians, neighbors, or friends)—residing in the City of Ithaca. Applicants also had to have household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income. The program used a randomized control trial design, with eligible applicants randomly assigned to a treatment (payment) group or a control group.
Family
- Caregiver status
- Caregiver for Elderly, Caregiver for Person with Disability
Financial
- Income as % of Area Median Income
- 802,022 %
Geography
- US states covered
- New York
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Ithaca
- Counties covered
- Tompkins
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
Evaluation was conducted by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR) using a randomized controlled trial comparing a treatment group and control group. Participants completed surveys at baseline, during the pilot, and after payments ended, covering financial stability, mental/physical health, housing stability, caregiver burden, and employment. Findings showed reduced caregiver burden and parental stress, improved housing stability, and higher employment rates among recipients versus control group.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were accepted during a defined open enrollment window (opened publicly in late 2021/2022) for caregivers residing in the City of Ithaca; the application period is now closed as the pilot has concluded.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants (unpaid caregivers meeting income and residency criteria) were randomly assigned via a randomized controlled trial design to either the treatment group (receiving payments) or a control group, as part of the CGIR-designed evaluation.
