Recovery Action Fund for Tomorrow (RAFT)
RAFT was a one-time, unconditional $4,000 cash payment program for low-income San Diego County families with children under 18 and seniors 55+, prioritizing those at risk of homelessness. Served residents of 39 COVID-impacted 'Health Equity' zip codes with household income at/below 200% FPL. Administered by nonprofit Jewish Family Service of San Diego, funded with $10 million in federal ARPA funds via the County of San Diego HHSA. Recipients selected by lottery from over 22,000 applicants. Distributed roughly $9 million to ~2,243 households between June and August 2023, completion announced February 2024.
Guaranteed Income, COVID-19 Relief, Lottery Selection, Prepaid Debit Card, Seniors, Health Equity Zip Codes, San Diego County, One-Time Payment, American Rescue Plan
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Jewish Family Service of San Diego (Economic Mobility & Opportunity)
- City
- San Diego
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://www.jfssd.org/our-services/economic-mobility-opportunity/recovery-action-fund-for-tomorrow/
- Phone
- +1 858-637-7350
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 2,243
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 4,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 444.44 USD
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- How long the program lasts
- 9 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid debit card
- Benefit details
Selected participants received a single unconditional $4,000 payment via prepaid debit card, in one of two cohorts (June or August 2023). Funds unrestricted; treated as tax-exempt charitable gift, not counted as taxable income though could affect means-tested benefits. Largest spend category was rent/mortgage (avg $849/household), then food/groceries (30%), retail (23%), transportation (16%).
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
San Diego County residents of one of 39 Health Equity zip codes disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, 18+, household income at/below 200% FPL. Included families with children under 18, seniors 55+, or families caring for dependent/disabled adults. Homelessness-risk families/seniors prioritized. Open regardless of immigration/citizenship status. One application per household; selection by random lottery.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
- Language
- English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somali, Korean, Persian, Tagalog
Family
- Family Status
- Parent
- Household size (minimum)
- 1
- Caregiver status
- Caregiver for Person with Disability
Health
- Health conditions
- Covid
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $101,120
- Income as % of Federal Poverty Level
- 200 %
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- San Diego
- ZIP / postal codes covered
- 91901, 91905, 91906, 91910, 91911, 91915, 91917, 91934, 91935, 91945, 91948, 91950, 91962, 91963, 91977, 91980, 92004, 92020, 92027, 92055, 92058, 92060, 92066, 92070, 92081, 92083, 92084, 92086, 92102, 92105, 92110, 92113, 92114, 92139, 92154, 92173, 92259, 92536, 92672
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
County of San Diego's Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Analytics (OEPA), with Georgetown University's Better Government Lab, conducted a randomized evaluation measuring wellbeing, homelessness/benefit service use, and fund usage at ~6 and 12 months. Found short-term financial relief but no measurable improvement in wellbeing or reduced reliance on public benefits/homeless services. JFS also shared data with Steady, a tracker of ~20 guaranteed income programs.
Application Process
- How to apply
Online application at jfssd.org/economicmobility during a two-week open window (May 8-21, 2023), available in nine languages. Required documentation verifying identity, income, and residency. One application per household; duplicates disqualified.
- Selection process
JFS reviewed submissions for completeness/eligibility (up to three weeks), then eligible applicants entered a random lottery from 22,237 applicants. Selected applicants contacted, notified, and invited to orientation before receiving disbursement via prepaid debit card in June or August 2023.
