As cities across the U.S. continue to experiment with direct cash transfers, a prominent Chicago suburb is extending its guaranteed income program while simultaneously defending a first-of-its-kind reparations initiative that pays Black residents $25,000. Local officials in Evanston, Illinois, announced the launch of the final round of the city’s Guaranteed Income Program this week. The program has been expanded to provide $500 monthly payments to 102 households over the next six months, utilizing the remainder of its federal pandemic recovery funds.
“This initiative is designed to provide direct financial assistance to help households meet essential needs such as nutrition and everyday expenses, offering a meaningful boost toward stability and well-being,” the city stated in a release. The program was originally launched as a pilot funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Under federal law, these recovery funds must be obligated by the end of 2024 and fully spent by the end of 2026.
