Friday, March 1, 2024

Chicago Forward: Guaranteed Income Programs in Chicago

See Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Brandie Knazze, Deputy Commissioner Mark Sanders II, and CEO Nicole Robinson of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago sit down with 36th Ward Alderman, Gilbert Villegas, on Chicago’s CANTV 21 to discuss learned lessons from Chicago’s first Guaranteed Income Program. 

September 26, 2023

What $500 means to Zinida Moore

In an experimental program, 5,000 Chicagoans received monthly cash payments from the city for a year, no strings attached. Here’s how the money changed one woman’s life — and how it didn’t.

June 16, 2023

How Guaranteed-Income Programs Helped These Chicago-Area Residents

The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ speaks to two CRCP participants about how the pilot has helped them to relieve financial stress and confront emergencies. Participants from Cook County Promise and Equity and Transformation’s Chicago Future Fund are also featured.

June 16, 2023

Are Guaranteed-Income Programs Working?

The Chicago Sun-Times interviews Dr. Shantá Robinson of the Inclusive Economy Lab and other researchers about ongoing research on guaranteed income programs like the CRCP.

June 9, 2023

Mayor Johnson Addresses Basic Income Guarantee Conference

Mayor Brandon Johnson provides welcoming remarks to Basic Income Guarantee conference attendees about the promise of guaranteed income programs.

April 29, 2023

Resilient Communities Participants on How Program Helped Get Them on Track

WTTW speaks to two CRCP participants about how the pilot has helped them to rebuild financially and invest in their futures

February 13, 2023

$500 a Month, No Strings: Chicago Experiments With a Guaranteed Income

The New York Times speaks to CRCP participant Christopher Ellington and both advocates and critics of guaranteed income nationally.

November 23, 2022

Three Chicago residents hopeful about guaranteed income pilots though future remains uncertain

The Chicago Sun-Times explores how two residents in the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot are using their monthly benefit.

August 11th, 2022

Chicago’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, Explained

City Bureau launches a series of articles about the history and current landscape of guaranteed income in Chicago.

July 23, 2022

Chicago Guaranteed Income Pilot Rolls Out

WTTW Chicago Tonight: Black Voices interviews DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze, Shriver Center for Poverty Law Executive Director Audra Wilson, and YWCA CEO Nicole Robinson about the latest on the pilot. 

May 19, 2022

Chicago and Cook County can help settle debate on guaranteed income 

In the Chicago Tribune – Opinion section, Carmelo Barbaro of the Inclusive Economy Lab offers perspective about researching the effects of guaranteed income.

May 3, 2022 

Thousands of Chicago residents apply for chance to receive $500 for 12 months: ‘There’s a lot of need’ 

The Chicago Sun-Times speaks with residents and community-based workers during the three-week application period for the pilot.

April 22, 2022 

Meet Chicagoans who plan to apply for the city’s guaranteed income pilot 

WBEZ Chicago profiles three residents who plan to apply for the pilot.

April 14, 2022 

Chicago to open applications for universal basic income program April 25 

WBEZ Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons has a conversation with DFSS Commissioner Brandie Knazze about the pilot program and pending application launch.

September 15, 2022

Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot Now Fully Enrolled

All 5,000 households have received at least their first $500 direct cash payment. A participant demographics report, plus profiles of two participants, were published on the CRCP website today.

July 11, 2022

Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot distributes first set of $500 monthly cash payments to over 3,500 households

Households will receive $500 cash payments every month for the next 12 months via direct deposit into their bank account or through a prepaid debit card. DFSS and GiveDirectly are finalizing enrollment and first payments for the remaining 1,500 households.

May 24, 2022

Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot Receives over 176,000 Applications

Applications were received from all 77 community areas, with at least 300 applications received from each ward. Participant selection starts this month.

April 13, 2022

Mayor Lightfoot Announces April 25th Launch of Applications for the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot

The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, which will provide $500 per month to 5,000 income-qualifying Chicago residents, will accept applications to enter the lottery between Monday, April 25 at 9:00 am and Friday, May 13 at 11:59 pm.

February 24, 2022

Eligibility Criteria for Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot Announced

The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot website offers a simple income eligibility lookup tool for residents interested in entering the lottery. Visit the Eligibility page for more information.

February 24, 2022

Mayor Lightfoot Announces New Initiatives in Administration’s Fight Toward Ending Poverty

On the second anniversary of the Mayor’s Solutions Towards Ending Poverty (STEP) summit, Mayor Lightfoot, City and community leaders announced three cash assistance funds that will benefit over 30,000 low-income Chicagoans disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.