Rochester Reporter

Mayor Malik D. Evans on June 15, 2023 announced the launch of the City of Rochester’s Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) Program. Qualified city residents will be able to apply starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 22, through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, June 29.

Financed by $2.2 million of the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Rochester’s GBI program will provide a monthly payment of $500 to 351 individuals for 12 months. The payments are unconditional, which means that there are no strings attached, no work requirements, and no restrictions on how the money can be spent.

“Rochester’s GBI program has the potential to create significant opportunities for our residents to not only survive, but to thrive,” said Mayor Evans. “We continue to work to take our city from a poverty mindset to a prosperity mindset, and to prioritize the well-being and economic stability of our community. GBI is one more program helping to do that.”

Applicants to the GBI program must meet all qualification criteria:

• Must be 18 years of age or older;
• Must be a resident of the City of Rochester for at least one year;
• Household income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL);
• Must reside in a qualified census tract in the City of Rochester;
• Only one individual per household can participate in the program.

The City is committed to making the GBI application process easy and accessible. City residents who do not have access to a computer or the internet can visit any of the more than 25 community partners to get help to apply.

“On June 15, 2023 announcement is the culmination of the efforts of many people, organizations, and community leaders,” said Mayor Evans. “Thanks to all of you who helped set the foundation for this program, and to those who are making the plan come together.”

The City has partnered with the Black Community Focus Fund (BCFF) and the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) to bring this program to fruition, with each partner managing different aspects of the program.

The City will manage and host the online application process; LEO will execute the randomized selection process and coordinate program research; and once participants have been selected and notified, the BCFF will oversee the enrollment process.

For contact information and to learn more about the roles each of these partners play in the GBI program, visit www.RocGBI.com/Partners.

Thanks to a private donation from local philanthropist Linda Philips to the One City Fund 2 at Rochester Area Community Foundation, the City is able to enroll one additional resident in the program, bringing the total to 351 participants. Donors interested in contributing to the City’s Guaranteed Basic Income Program may donate at www.RACF.org/OneCity.

To learn more about the program, get answers to frequently asked questions, check eligibility guidelines, and apply once the application goes live, visit www.RocGBI.com.

Original source can be found here.