Mount Vernon To Guarantee Monthly Income To 200 Qualifying Residents

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The Mayors for Guaranteed Income Pilot Program has arrived in Mount Vernon and will be known as "Level Up," Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard announced on Saturday morning.

The program, which will officially launch on Wednesday, July 20, will offer 200 randomly selected qualified residents a $500/month income for 12 months. The monthly cash payment will be unconditional, with "no strings attached" on how to spend it and no work requirements. It is meant to supplement, not replace, social safety nets already in place.

The initiative's architects said the pilot program is part of an independent research project that will be used to study the effects of this type of program so that Mount Vernon and other jurisdictions can learn about the project’s impact on the economic stability of participants, as well as its impact on participants’ overall health and well-being.

Organizers said research has shown that cash may be the simplest yet most powerful way to do the most good for the most number of people because it moves quickly, it allows for flexibility and it helps people who are only partially covered or left out of current social safety net programs. Additional cash in people's pockets can help keep families financially secure and stimulate the economy both locally and at the state and national levels.

The application will be available here from July 20 - August 5. Applicants can also visit community partners to apply in person.

"We are committed to building a dignity economy for the residents of Mount Vernon," Patterson-Howard said. "I fully support guaranteed income for residents. I'm excited to join a coalition of innovative and forward-thinking mayors who are not afraid to push for critical resources for their community."

More information about the program can be found here. The mayor also posted a video briefly explaining the Level Up program: