City gave $1,000 a month to 135 families to spend however they choose
Newsy
Select households in Austin, Texas, were given the guaranteed income for a year. The majority of the funds helped low-income families pay rent.
The city of Austin, Texas, helped provide a guaranteed income of $1,000 a month to 135 households for a one-year period. According to a new report prepared by the Urban Institute, most of the money went toward housing.
According to the report, nearly 60% of the money used in the UpTogether program was spent on housing, while 20% went to basic needs, 10% went to other bills, and the remainder was put into investments or given to help others.
The program enrolled low-income residents, many of whom reportedly were in areas with rapidly increasing rents. Despite living in rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods, the report says that participants were more likely to be caught up on rent and less likely to be evicted or foreclosed upon.
The Urban Institute's findings also showed that the group's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4% during the 12-month period.
Families participating in the program were also less likely to go hungry.
