Fund for Guaranteed Income

Thank you to everyone who joined us in discussing the transformative potential of Guaranteed Income as a health intervention. It was an honor to share the stage with such incredible pioneers in the field. Our founder, Nika Soon-Shong, had the opportunity to highlight our HCV program and our ongoing efforts to make housing assistance more accessible. Ever wonder how individuals can receive housing assistance through Section 8? It’s a complex process, but we are committed to changing that. Learn more about our housing pledge and how we’re working to break down barriers at F4GI.org/housingpledge.

At the Fund for Guaranteed Income, we believe that access to safe, affordable housing is a fundamental human right. Our latest brief explores the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), the largest housing initiative in the U.S. that supports millions of families each year. Did you know that fully funding HCV could reduce street homelessness by 75% and cut child poverty by a third? Yet, less than 1 in 10 eligible households currently receive the support they need. This brief outlines the challenges families face in accessing these vital vouchers, the impact of HCV on communities, and the urgent need for policy change. ?? Read our full brief here https://lnkd.in/gaEHbdaQ and join us in advocating for a future where every family has a stable home. Together, we can make a difference! #HousingChoiceVoucher #AffordableHousing

Thank you so much Rising Communities for having us, and allowing us to continue to shed light on the good work guaranteed income is doing for the mothers of South Los Angeles. ?? Listen to two of the Mothers Rising for Guaranteed Income recipient testimonials from this forum, at the link: https://lnkd.in/g-k3stV3

?? Huge thanks to The Patchwork Collective for their thoughtful article highlighting our work at The Fund For Guaranteed Income (F4GI)! ?? We’re proud to be recognized as "bureaucracy ninjas," focused on cutting through red tape to deliver cash and resources to low-income families across America. Our mission is more than just technology; it’s about building a new safety net that enables financial redistribution for a just society. With our founder Nika Soon-Shiong’s expertise and a commitment to community-driven solutions, we’re continually refining our approach to ensure that support reaches those who need it most. From our work with the Compton Pledge to the innovative Housing Pledge program with HUD, we’re dedicated to reshaping the conversation around welfare and financial aid. A special shoutout to The Patchwork Collective for their catalytic support, which has allowed us to experiment and innovate during critical times. We look forward to continuing this journey of social change together! ??? Read the full article at this link: https://lnkd.in/gyJ2VcHV

Our founder,?Nika Soon-Shiong,?collaborated with other academics and to create this comprehensive report on ethical considerations in guaranteed income programs, a must-read for anyone involved in research or policy-making. The report highlights essential practices for ensuring these initiatives are effective and ethical. Key takeaways include the importance of community engagement, inclusivity in design, fair compensation for participants, and maintaining participant privacy. By prioritizing ethical practices, we can better serve communities and create programs that truly empowers individuals. I highly encourage everyone to dive into this report and explore its findings. It’s a valuable resource for advancing our understanding of basic income and ethical research. ?? Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g-NDX4sg

Thank you LA2050 and the Goldhirsh Foundation for giving us the stage to share our new innovative solution to expedite housing assistance with guaranteed income at the LA Tech Week panel "Technology and Storytelling for Social Good". #latechweek

?? Join Us for the Rising Communities Policy Forum: Fantastic Futures! ?? ?? Date: October 10, 2024 ?? Time: 10 AM - 5 PM ?? Location: California Science Center, Exposition Park, South LA We hope you can make it this Thursday to hear our founder, Nika S. speak at the Beyond Basic Income: Transforming Futures Together panel, hosted by Rising Communities! This inspiring day will feature: - Engaging panels with diverse speakers - A youth art exhibition showcasing local talent - Creative workshops to spark innovative ideas - Uplifting performances by Afroclassical Composers Breakfast and lunch will be provided, so come ready to connect and collaborate! ?? Secure your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gJxW6QnU Let’s transform futures together! We hope to see you there! #RisingCommunities #BeyondBasicIncome #PolicyForum

State and local governments are spending billions of tax dollars to solve the homeless crisis but barely making a dent, so Long Beach is about to try something new - supporting the houseless and housing insecure with around $900 a month while they search for a rental unit. Today on Spectrum News, Mayor Rex Richardson shared how the pandemic put stress on local housing agencies to innovate. If the Long Beach #HousingPledge is a success, it can scale up across the county and even the country. The pilot aims to re-imagine the federal Section 8 voucher program, which fails to match the homeless with housing 50% of the time in LA and Long Beach. Nationally, the lease up success rate is 60%!

In the US, 1 in 500 people are homeless, with California and LA at the crisis’s heart. The current approach is costly and ineffective—LA’s Inside Safe program spent $559,934 per person housed with mixed results. ?? But there’s hope: Direct Cash Assistance could be a game-changer. Studies show that targeted cash transfers could significantly reduce homelessness more effectively than current methods. ?? Curious how? Dive into our latest policy brief to explore why direct cash might be the solution we need. ?? https://lnkd.in/gaEHbdaQ #HousingJustice #DirectCashAssistance #Homelessness #PolicyChange

It was great to have the opportunity to spread the word about the Housing Pledge and hear more about the findings from other local GI programs at the LA County GI Summit yesterday. Our partners from ACLU of Louisiana also came out to share their experience building Truth and Reconciliation, a pioneering guaranteed income initiative for those affected by police violence. We were also moved by Hope's powerful story, a pilot participant who spoke alongside Alanah Odoms, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Louisiana. During the summit, there was a consensus that all city and non-profit officials, GI recipients alike agreed upon, "We can do policies with the core principles of guaranteed income: trusting in people trusting in communities." - Nika Soin-Shiong