Just Income Cohort 4
Just Income is a guaranteed income program in Alachua County, Florida, created and led by formerly incarcerated people through the nonprofit Community Spring. Cohort 4, launched in early 2026, selected 15 participants by random lottery from over 200 applicants to receive $800/month (paid as two $400 installments) for 12 months via GiveCard. The program is funded by private donors/foundations and has distributed over $1 million since its 2022 launch. A randomized controlled trial with UPenn's Center for Guaranteed Income Research found the pilot cohort's recidivism dropped 31% versus a control group. This is the fourth annual cohort of the ongoing program.
Justice-Impacted, Reentry, Formerly Incarcerated, Alachua County, GiveCard, Cohort 4
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Community Spring
- City
- Gainesville
- State / Province
- Florida
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 352-339-9393
- info@csgnv.org
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 15
- Funding type
- Nonprofit, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 9,600 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 800 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card (GiveCard), Digital/Virtual Payment Card
- Benefit details
Participants receive $800 per month for 12 months, disbursed as two payments of $400 on the 1st and 15th of each month via a GiveCard prepaid card. Payments are treated as tax-free gifts with no reporting requirements or spending restrictions. If a participant can no longer receive disbursements, funds can be transferred to a designated beneficiary. The final number of participants selected depends on available funding at the time of the lottery drawing.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants must be Alachua County residents (proof required) and, between December 4, 2024 and December 3, 2025, have been released from a Florida state prison, released from federal prison, released from a Florida county jail with a new felony conviction, or begun felony probation in Alachua County. There are no restrictions based on conviction type, length of incarceration, or income level. Eligible applicants are entered into a purely random lottery drawing; being eligible does not guarantee selection.
Justice
- Justice involvement status
- Formerly Incarcerated, On Probation
- Released within (reentry window)
- 1 years
Geography
- US states covered
- Florida
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Gainesville
- Counties covered
- Alachua
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Research / participation requirements
Participants may be invited to complete optional surveys or interviews during the program; participation in research does not affect payments. The original 2022 pilot cohort was evaluated via a randomized controlled trial by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research (CGIR), with additional qualitative research by Dr. Lucius Couloute of Trinity College; it is not confirmed whether the same academic partners are conducting formal research on Cohort 4 specifically.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications were accepted online/in person from November 12 through December 3, 2025 (this window is now closed). Most eligible applicants received a mailed letter with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to continue the process; those eligible without a PIN could call (352) 339-9393. Proof of Alachua County residency was required.
- Selection process
Participants are chosen through a purely random lottery drawing from the pool of all eligible applicants. Community Spring does not rank or prioritize applicants by need; the final number of participants selected (15 for Cohort 4, from 200+ applicants) is determined by available funding at the time of the drawing.
