Another Massachusetts city will try giving thousands of dollars directly to low-income residents
SALEM - Salem is the latest city in Massachusetts to test out a guaranteed income program that would give thousands of dollars directly to its poorest residents.
The Uplift Salem initiative will give $500 a month to 100 Salem residents for an entire year. There's no restrictions on how recipients can spend the income.
"We want Salem to be an affordable place for everyone, and a guaranteed income program offers an innovative approach to help achieve that goal," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said in a statement.
Who is eligible for Uplift Salem?
To qualify for Uplift Salem, residents must live in Salem with family incomes that are at or below 100% of the federal poverty level based on household size. Homeless people can also participate if they spend most of their time in Salem.
Applications will open on the Uplift Salem website on Oct. 28 and will stay open for two weeks or until 350 people have applied. After that, there will be a random selection of participants and the payments will begin on Dec. 1.
The $650,000 pilot program is being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and private donations from the UpTogether organization.
Guaranteed income programs in Massachusetts
Cambridge launched a guaranteed income program in 2021, giving 130 families $500 a month for 18 months. A report found that it boosted employment and bettered the financial health of those who participated.
In Chelsea, 2,200 families facing food insecurity were picked to get $400 a month for nine months. A Harvard Kennedy School analysis found 65% of the funds were spent on food and the initiative "largely achieved its goals.
Worcester in 2023 started a guaranteed basic income pilot for 52 families that gave them $100 to $500 per month, depending on need. Boston has not started a guaranteed income program yet, but Mayor Michelle Wu's administration said it was something Boston was "exploring" last year.
