Evanston Expands $300,000 Cash Program for 102 Families as ARPA Funds Near December Deadline
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 21
Evanston Expands $300,000 Cash Program for 102 Families as ARPA Funds Near December Deadline
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 21
$300,000 in remaining federal relief money will fund Evanston's expanded guaranteed income program, sending $500 a month for six months to 102 low-income families chosen by lottery.
150 applications arrived in the first week as the city rushed to obligate and spend its leftover American Rescue Plan funds before the end-of-2026 cutoff for pandemic aid.
Eligibility is limited to residents at or below 185% of the federal poverty line who are either 55 or older or have a child in second grade or younger.
More than 100 U.S. cities launched similar cash pilots since 2018, but with federal support exhausted, officials are turning to local budgets, private donations and state lobbying to keep them alive.
Texas shows the legal risk: Attorney General Ken Paxton sued to block Harris County's $20.5 million program, and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt said guaranteed income should be ruled unconstitutional.
Can cities fund their own basic income programs while facing legal challenges and expiring federal aid?
With AI set to alter the job market, are direct cash payments the future of the American safety net?