Fremont to Study UBI Pilot Program

The Fremont City Council voted unanimously (7-0) on Tuesday for Councilmember Teresa Keng’s council referral to consider launching a universal basic income (UBI) program in Fremont. The item as adopted calls on city staff to research funding opportunities, including grants made available through state and federal sources.

If the UBI pilot program can be sufficiently funded, it will target families at risk of homelessness, as well as pregnant women and foster care transitional youth.

Councilmember Keng explained why Fremont needs a UBI program.

“In Fremont, we have approximately 300 students in FUSD that are housing-insecure. Homelessness can quickly deteriorate an individual’s physical and mental health, and it becomes challenging to help those individuals and families once they become unhoused,” said Councilmember Keng. “We must support those at risk before they fall into homelessness by providing essential economic stability.”

With the Fremont City Council’s approval, Fremont city staff will now explore state and federal resources to finance a new UBI program in the city.

Fremont could become the next Bay Area city to provide universal basic income for residents. Earlier this year, Oakland rolled out a privately funded program to give low-income families in the city $500 per month. For the time being, Mountain View is in the preliminary phase of starting a guaranteed basic income pilot program.