Even though there are no more applications being taken, the Guaranteed Income Program needs for people to be aware that it exists. It is commonly known as Just Income in the state of Florida and it consists on just 115 participants. Their median household income is $20,372 per year and the amounts recipients are getting paid is $1,000 on the first month and then $600 monthly. The most recent program lasted from February 2022 to February 2023. Recipients who are deemed eligible must be within six months of their release from federal/Florida state prison, released from jail with a felony or starting felony probation. This project took place in Alachua County, Florida.

What's the guaranteed Income Program's main objective?

According to the program itself, it provides temporary and monthly payments directly to folks who have been roughly impacted by the justice system. Given that the laws have been archaic in the past, there are many Americans who were jailed for reasons that currently are not considered crimes but they remained in prison for many years. Formerly incarcerated people are the ones who are running this program, they know exactly what these former inmates are going through. This guaranteed income aims to mitigate the many barriers that arise during this difficult period in which these Americans attempt to become members of society again.

The pilot of this program is designed for these 115 people who were randomly selected from an applicant pool that will offer them that monthly money. Alachua County residents who met the established criteria within six months of the application deadline are the ones who can be considered eligible to apply. These people must have been recently released from federal prison, state prison, county jail, or recently started probation in Alachua County. The experiment that took place was successful and the local Florida Government aims to continue this program that willremain funded by the Government of Florida.