The program, which received $22 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, aims to address the economic divide and racial inequity within the city.
Cambridge, Massachusetts has launched a new guaranteed income program called “Rise Up,” providing direct payments to eligible residents
Unlike many other programs, Rise Up allows residents to freely use the funds for any purpose without restrictions. City manager Yi-An Huang emphasized the importance of giving people the power to decide what they need, whether it’s education, childcare, housing, food, or leisure activities. To qualify for the program, residents must live in Cambridge, have at least one child aged 21 or younger, and demonstrate that their income is within 250 percent of the federal poverty level, varying based on family size.
Unlike a lottery-based system, Rise Up requires all eligible residents to apply online. The application portal will be open from June 1 to July 31, and applicants will receive a confirmation email or text with a link to track their application status. Initial payments will begin on June 30, and additional participants will be approved on an ongoing basis. Approximately 2,000 individuals are estimated to be eligible for the program.
For those outside Cambridge, there are other guaranteed income programs available across the country
In Rochester, New York, the Local Sound Collaborative, a music and arts organization, has launched an initiative to provide $200 in monthly support to eligible studio musicians, production engineers, and sound technicians in the Greater Rochester area. Applications for this program can be submitted online until June 3.
Richmond, Virginia has also introduced a guaranteed income program, providing monthly payments of $500 to nearly 40 residents. Eligibility requires residing in Richmond, having earnings of at least $12.71 per hour (but not exceeding the defined “living wage”), and not receiving any public benefits. The funding will support 125 low-income residents with $500 monthly payments for two years.
In addition, there is a limited-time opportunity to claim payments ranging from $500 to $1,000 in New Mexico. Furthermore, individuals can check if they are eligible to apply for a $9.5 million hard seltzer settlement this month.
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