A new guaranteed income program in Pomona will pay parents and legal guardians of young children $500 per month for up to 18 months.
Applications open on June 17 and parents and guardians of children ages three and under are eligible.
The program is made possible through the city’s Household Universal Grants Program (HUG) and is administered through the city and the organization FORWARD, which has managed similar programs in Long Beach and Los Angeles County.
Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill which was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March 2021. The City of Pomona has set aside more than $2.4 million for the program.
A total of 250 awardees will be chosen to receive the $500 monthly payments, as well as “additional resources and support services in Pomona and through Los Angeles County.”
The program, organizers say, will encourage upward social and economic mobility for the recipients.
“Through the Pomona HUG, we are taking a significant step towards nurturing our community’s future by supporting Pomona families with children under the age of four,” said Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval in a news release. “Parenthood often comes with unique challenges, and the HUG Program aims to alleviate some of these burdens by investing in the well-being of our families and the future of Pomona.”
To be eligible for the program, parents will need to live within city limits, be at least 18 years old when applying, be the parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of four at the time of applying, and have a household income at or below 300% of Federal Poverty Guidelines of 65% of the Area Median Income.
A 350-person control group, which researchers will monitor and compare with the awardees, will receive a $20 monthly stipend. Both groups will be eligible for $50 bonus payments for participating in surveys provided by UCLA.
Adnan Mahmud, CEO of FORWARD, said the organization will use its “cutting-edge technology to streamline processes, ensure transparency, and maximize the impact of every dollar invested.”
An online application portal is available in 68 languages and application support is available by phone, text or email, officials said. Applicants will need to submit proof of their identification, address and provide a recent pay stub and a completed W-9 form.
“By empowering our parents and guardians with the means to meet their children’s needs, we are fostering an environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive from the very start,” Sandoval said.
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