South San Francisco Guaranteed Income Pilot Program (GIPP)
The South San Francisco Guaranteed Income Pilot Program (GIPP) provided $500/month for 12 months to 160 low-income South San Francisco residents, beginning October 2021. Funded primarily through the City's ARPA allocation, with additional grants from San Mateo County and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Administered by the YMCA Community Resource Center (CRC), which handled outreach, selection, case management, and survey-based research. Priority given to extremely low-income households (at/below 30% AMI), single heads of household with minor children, residents of the city's lowest-income census tracts, and former foster youth. Concluded in 2022 with a final report to City Council in 2023.
Guaranteed Income, COVID-19 Recovery, Foster Youth, Single Parents, Low-Income, San Mateo County, Silicon Valley, ARPA-funded
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- YMCA Community Resource Center (YMCA of San Francisco), administered on behalf of the City of South San Francisco
- City
- South San Francisco
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 650 276 4101
- housing@ssf.net
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 160
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 6,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 500 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Distribution Type
- Debit Card, Direct Deposit
- Benefit details
Participants received $500/month for 12 months ($6,000 total), via debit card or checking/savings account at Self-Help Federal Credit Union depending on documentation status. Payments processed monthly by fiscal agent Community Financial Resources, 99% on-time per participant surveys. Pre-payment benefits counseling and budgeting guidance provided. A $30,000 Hold Harmless Fund offset any public benefit loss, though none was found necessary.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
South San Francisco residents with household income at/below 30% AMI (~$38,400 individual, ~$54,800 family of four), sorted into 4 tiers by income/benefit eligibility. Priority points for minor children, single-parent households, low-income census tract residence, or former foster youth. All 131 Tier 1 applicants accepted plus 29 highest-scoring Tier 2. No SSN required - ITIN or non-interest savings account accepted.
Demographics
- Language
- English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog
Family
- Family Status
- Parent, Single Parent, Foster Youth
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $54,800
Citizenship
- Citizenship / immigration status
- Citizen, Permanent Resident, Undocumented
Geography
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- South San Francisco
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Research / participation requirements
YMCA CRC administered pre/post Self-Sufficiency Questionnaires plus quarterly surveys, planned 18-month follow-up. Jain Family Institute informally advised on design. Survey participation optional, incentivized with $200/$30 payments. Final Program Report delivered to City Council in 2023.
Application Process
- How to apply
Applications accepted online and via paper form Aug 2-27, 2021, in English/Spanish/Tagalog/Chinese. Now closed, city page states no applications currently accepted.
- Selection process
YMCA CRC received 789 applications (493 complete enough for review). Sorted into 4 tiers by income + points system for risk factors. All 131 Tier 1 selected plus 29 highest-scoring Tier 2, filling 160 slots.
