VC Thrive
VC Thrive is a guaranteed income pilot in which the Ventura County Human Services Agency selected the local nonprofit James Storehouse to provide $1,000 monthly stipends to 150 former Ventura County foster youth for 18 months. It was funded by a $1.5 million California Department of Social Services (CDSS) grant, $1.5 million in Ventura County State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, and about $2,700 in private donations. VC Thrive is one of seven county-level sites in California's statewide GI Pilot Program for Pregnant Individuals and Former Foster Youth, which is evaluated by the Urban Institute and UC Berkeley. Applications opened October 16, 2023 and closed February 29, 2024 or once 150 eligible applicants enrolled. As of 2026 the 18-month pilot has concluded, having distributed a total of $2.7 million to participants.
Guaranteed Income, Foster Youth, Aging Out of Foster Care, California, Ventura County, State-Funded Pilot
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- James Storehouse
- City
- Newbury Park
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 805 499 7161
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 150
- Funding type
- Government, Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 18,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,000 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 18 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit, Debit Card
- Benefit details
Participants received $1,000 per month for 18 months, roughly $18,000 total, either by direct deposit to a personal bank account or on a re-loadable debit card, with the option to change payment method at any time. Under state statute, GI pilot payments are exempt from consideration as income for CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility. James Storehouse offered one-on-one benefits counseling to help participants understand potential effects on Medi-Cal and other means-tested benefits.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Applicants had to be former Ventura County foster youth who remained in extended foster care on or after their 20th birthday, be between 21 and under 26 years old at the time of application, and be current California residents (not necessarily current Ventura County residents). Household income had to be at or below HUD Low-Income Limits (e.g., $74,400 for a one-person household, $85,500 for a two-person household). Enrollment was capped at the first 150 eligible applicants and closed once capacity was reached or by the stated deadline.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 21
- Maximum age
- 26
Family
- Family Status
- Foster Youth
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $85,500
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Counties covered
- Ventura
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Research / participation requirements
VC Thrive is part of California's statewide CDSS Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for Pregnant Individuals and Former Foster Youth, which is being evaluated across all seven sites by researchers at the Urban Institute and UC Berkeley using randomized controlled trial and quasi-experimental designs plus participant focus groups. Findings to date (baseline report January 2025; early participant experiences report October 2025) are published at the aggregate, statewide level rather than broken out specifically for VC Thrive.
Application Process
- How to apply
Eligible former Ventura County foster youth reviewed eligibility requirements on the James Storehouse VC Thrive webpage, then completed an online application hosted on the AidKit platform (vcthrive.aidkit.org) during the open enrollment window. Applicants had to show proof of meeting eligibility requirements before being formally enrolled.
- Selection process
Enrollment was on a first-come, first-served basis among eligible applicants during the open application window (October 16, 2023 - February 29, 2024), capped at the first 150 eligible enrollees; James Storehouse contacted selected participants directly to confirm enrollment.
