On Monday, Sacramento County, California, rolled out a new guaranteed income program, allowing limited applicants to receive monthly payments of $725. This initiative is part of the Family First Economic Support Pilot aimed at assisting low-income families and reducing child abuse rates.
The decision to create this program stems from concerning statistics; Black children in Sacramento face a significantly higher risk of being involved with Child Protective Services, as they are 4.6 times more likely to have a case investigated and 4.5 times more likely to be removed from their homes. American Indian and Native Alaskan children also encounter similar disparities.
To qualify, applicants must be parents or legal guardians of children aged 0 to 5, and they must reside in specific Sacramento zip codes (95815, 95821, 95823, 95828, 95825, or 95838) while earning below 200% of the federal poverty line. Applications are open until October 13 at 11:59 p.m., and interested individuals can apply online at fesp.org. A total of 200 random applicants will be chosen for the program.
Although officials are optimistic about this program’s potential to support families, it has faced criticism due to its racial eligibility criteria. Many have voiced concerns over what they view as discriminatory practices, with some users on X (formerly Twitter) calling it “overtly racist.”
Despite the backlash, advocates point out the growing trend of guaranteed income programs across the U.S. that have shown benefits such as increased employment and improved financial stability for recipients. For instance, Minnesota’s program for artists has recently extended, continuing to provide financial support to promote community resilience.
As Sacramento’s program launches, its success may pave the way for broader initiatives in the future.