Shreveport Guaranteed Income Program
The Shreveport Guaranteed Income Program (SGIP) was a 12-month guaranteed income pilot administered by the City of Shreveport and United Way of Northwest Louisiana through the Shreveport Financial Empowerment Center. It provided $660 per month to 110 single-parent/guardian families with incomes at or below 120% of the Federal Poverty Level, selected by lottery from Shreveport/Caddo Parish residents. The pilot was funded by a Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) grant/private donations for the first six months and matching funds from the Caddo Parish Commission for the remaining six months. Abt Global (formerly Abt Associates) conducted a randomized controlled trial evaluation of the program. The program ran March 2022 through February 2023 and has since concluded.
MGI pilot, Single-parent households, Racial equity, Louisiana, Randomized controlled trial
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- City of Shreveport / United Way of Northwest Louisiana
- City
- Shreveport
- State / Province
- Louisiana
- Country
- United States
Contact
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 110
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 7,920 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 660 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit, Steady app (prepaid/linked debit)
- Benefit details
Participants received $660 per month for 12 months (total of $7,920 per participant), disbursed via the Steady app linked to participants' bank accounts. Total program investment was reported as $871,200. Payments were unconditional with no work or spending requirements.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to be a single parent or guardian (defined as not living with a romantic partner), age 18 or older, with at least one child between ages 3 and 20 living with them, a household income at or below 120% of the Federal Poverty Level (e.g., $20,904 for a two-person household, +$5,448 per additional person), and reside in Shreveport/Caddo Parish. Roughly 50% of participants were randomly selected from the five lowest-income ZIP codes in the parish, with the remainder selected from other areas of the parish.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
Family
- Family Status
- Single Parent
- Number of dependents (minimum)
- 1
- Household size (minimum)
- 2
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $20,904
- Income as % of Federal Poverty Level
- 1,202,022 %
Geography
- US states covered
- Louisiana
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Shreveport
- Counties covered
- Caddo Parish
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
Abt Global (formerly Abt Associates) conducted a randomized controlled trial (110 treatment / 132 control) with baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 6-month post-pilot surveys plus interviews with 25 participants. The final report, 'Shreveport Guaranteed Income Program: Mayors for a Guaranteed Income Evaluation Final Report' (Kappil et al., October 2024), found significant improvements in food security and reductions in household chaos during the pilot; marginal improvements in financial stability (e.g., ability to cover a $400 emergency expense) and housing security; increased household income (though by less than the GI amount); no significant effect on employment rates; and that most positive effects faded within 6 months after payments ended. Participants were 88% women, 89% Black, with a median household income of $12,435/year at application.
Application Process
- How to apply
A one-week online application window opened January 10, 2022, promoted by the City of Shreveport and Caddo Parish with a link on the City's website. The application asked eligibility screening questions, requested research consent, and included a voluntary baseline survey. More than 4,300 people completed applications during the open week.
- Selection process
Eligible applicants (single parents/guardians, ages 18+, with a child aged 3-20, household income at or below 120% FPL, Caddo Parish resident) were randomly selected by lottery by the research team (Abt Global). Approximately 50% of the 110 selected participants were drawn from the five lowest-income ZIP codes in Caddo Parish, with the remainder from other ZIP codes in the parish. A control group of 132 additional eligible applicants was also randomly assigned for the evaluation.
