Christine and her daughter got their certificates in January. It was a bad time.
The mother of a five-year-old told Insider that the risks were too high because her child had a respiratory illness. She had to take a medical leave from her job as a bus driver. Her daughter wasn't able to attend school.
Christine asked that her last name not be used because she couldn't pay her bills when she had no money. I haven't received an unemployment check.
Christine got an email in January of 2021. The city would send her $1,800 every three months, no strings attached, and it was from something called the Compton Pledge. She remembered that she put her name down on an email list for treatment for drug addiction, but she didn't know it would be for a universal basic income.
She asked her pastor if it was real. He said it was legit.
The largest city-based guaranteed income program in the US is the Compton Pledge. Out of the $9.2 million raised, the group has dispersed $4 million. 800 low-income households in Compton are supported through a lottery program, each of which will receive funds for two years.
Christine said that she was able to pay rent and have money in her pocket. It was a blessing.
Some relief after many years of economic need.
Christine was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 She was 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 She became hooked on meth after seeing a man cook it. She had a son.
After five years of being clean, Christine relapsed with a partner who wasTrafficking her. She left him and became homeless. She left her son in the care of a friend in order to get him back. She lost custody of him and he wasn't interested in being back with her.
Christine had a second child while homeless. Shields for Families is a community-based nonprofit that provides housing, counseling, and other social services to families in need.
Three years ago, former Mayor Aja Brown came to visit Christine. Christine put her name down to apply for the pledge.
Christine has been able to keep her head above water thanks to the help of her Pledge money.
She was able to buy a car that she uses to make money as an employee of the food delivery service. Christine said that no one would have lent her money if she hadn't gotten a foot in the door.
She said she put down $4,000 after saving a few of her pledges. "No one cares about your financial history when you can afford it." My credit is actually better because they gave me the loan for the car.
The group behind Compton Pledge believes that guaranteed income funds are important to addressing the problems with government welfare programs, which it says are often underfunded and come with strings attached.
Nika Soon-Shiong, a co-director of the Compton Pledge, told Insider that guaranteed income makes a case for investing in immigrants. Not all formerly incarcerated people have access to welfare benefits.
She said that it addresses the reality of the nation's fragmented, punitive welfare structure.
There has been a surge in popularity of guaranteed income programs this year. The direct-cash experiments will come into effect by the end of the year, according to a report in January. Dozens of US mayors joined Mayors for a Guaranteed Income this year.
The funds from the pledge don't affect one's other benefits, and they aren't taxed. The payments aren't considered a public charge, which affects some immigrants' ability to become American citizens.
Christine had more disposable income because her access to food stamps and other welfare benefits weren't affected. Christine started a nonprofit to help the homeless in her community, as well as providing for her family. She and her church provide food and other necessities to the homeless population of Compton, as well as life coaching for people transitioning out of homelessness.
Some people look at the pledge and think, "Why are you helping people who won't help themselves?" Christine said that she is proof that isn't true. This is helping me.
Do you have a story to tell about guaranteed income? If you'd like to reach out to him, you can do so at jlalljee@insider.com.
