Project Solid Ground
Project Solid Ground was a 12-month guaranteed income pilot that provided $1,000 per month to 15 low-income Twin Cities residents from October 2020 through September 2021. It was privately funded by a group of anonymous donors organized by philanthropist Nancy Somers through the Nancy Somers Family Foundation (NSFF). The program was implemented in partnership with Avivo, a Minneapolis social-services nonprofit, which randomly selected recipients from among people already enrolled in its treatment, training, housing, and career-advancement services. Funds were distributed on prepaid debit cards with no restrictions on use, and recipients checked in monthly with Avivo staff on wellbeing, housing, health, finances, education, and employment. The pilot has concluded and there is no evidence it continued or was renewed under this name.
Debit Card Distribution, COVID-19 Response, Nonprofit-Partnered, Twin Cities, Privately Funded Pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Avivo
- City
- Minneapolis
- State / Province
- Minnesota
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://avivomn.org/
- Phone
- +1 612 752 8000
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Number of recipients
- 15
- Funding type
- Philanthropic
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
- Debit Card
- Benefit details
Participants received $1,000 per month for 12 consecutive months (October 2020-September 2021), loaded onto a prepaid debit card, for a total of $12,000 per recipient. Funds could be used with no restrictions; recipients most commonly spent the money on food, clothing, medical care and transportation, but also used it for childcare, debt repayment, education costs, and savings. The debit-card model let Avivo track spending patterns and allowed unbanked participants to receive funds without needing a bank account.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Eligibility was limited to individuals already enrolled in or connected to Avivo's treatment and recovery, mental health, housing, or employment/career-training services in the Twin Cities. Fifteen recipients were selected at random from this pool of existing service participants rather than through an open public application. As a condition of participation, recipients agreed to check in monthly with Avivo staff regarding well-being, housing, health, finances, education and employment. No income, age, family-status, or other demographic thresholds beyond program/service enrollment were publicly specified.
Geography
- US states covered
- Minnesota
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Minneapolis, Saint Paul
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Enrollment in or connection to Avivo's treatment and recovery, mental health, housing, or employment/career-advancement services
- Research / participation requirements
Avivo staff (counselors/mobility mentors) managed monthly check-ins with participants covering six domains: overall well-being, housing, health, finances, education, and employment. Findings were shared informally through Avivo's public reporting (news post and press coverage) describing positive impacts on participants' financial stability, housing, and well-being; no formal independent academic study or public dataset was identified.
Application Process
- How to apply
There was no public application process; participants were selected internally by Avivo from among individuals already enrolled in its treatment, training, housing, or career-advancement services.
- Selection process
Avivo randomly selected 15 participants from across its existing service population (treatment/recovery, mental health, housing support, and employment/career training programs).
