Transformative Edge of Reform

Transformative Edge of Reform

Currently, there are several efforts underway to advocate for and test strategies that move towards transformation, but within the existing constraints of government and current systems. This section provides an overview of universal basic income, direct cash transfers, and youth-led and designed entrepreneurship as examples of the transformative edge of reform.  

• Universal Basic Income (UBI) - UBI is an allocation of money distributed to people by the government regardless of income or other qualifications. Emerging evidence suggests that guaranteed income typically leverages funds to find full-time employment, enabling shifts in employment by giving recipients emotional and financial capacity for risk taking towards better opportunities.

  • Legislative Efforts

    • California Universal Basic Income for Transition-Aged Youth Pilot Project - New CA based bill that provides $1000 universal basic income for three years for youth aging out of foster care.

  • Community Pilots 

    • Mayors for a Guaranteed Income - a campaign of mayors nationwide committing to piloting UBI,  many of which are targeting lowest income individuals with housing insecurity. This resource offers a map with all cities testing pilot programs.

    • The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration - The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) is the nation’s first mayor-led guaranteed income demonstration. Launched in February 2019 by former Mayor Michael D. Tubbs, SEED gave 125 randomly selected residents $500/month for 24 months. The cash was completely unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements.

• Direct cash transfers for youth experiencing homelessness 

  • Policy Research - 2020 Chapin Hall Study Developing a direct cash transfer program for youth experiencing homelessness: Results of a mixed methods, multi stakeholder design process. New York City and jurisdictions across the country lack evidence for which interventions work best, and for whom, to devise systemic solutions for ending youth homelessness. One solution may be offering direct financial assistance (“cash transfers”) along with other supports to youth experiencing homelessness. This intervention has the potential to empower and entrust young people to invest in their own solutions for housing stability and pathways to thriving. To this end, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, in partnership with Point Source Youth, is collaborating with young people, government agencies, and private sector funders to develop and evaluate a direct cash transfer program (DCTP) for youth experiencing homelessness in NYC. 

  • Project Opportunity - Trust Youth Initiative - The Trust Youth Initiative: Direct Cash Transfers to Address Young Adult Homelessness (young people age 18-24) involves the first study of the effectiveness of direct cash assistance with optional supportive services to help advance the goal of ending youth homelessness. The project will take place in New York City (NYC) and build actionable evidence. In the first phase, 30-40 young adults (ages 18-24) experiencing homelessness will receive $1,250 per month for up to two years. 

• Entrepreneurship opportunities led and designed by youth 

  • Young Creative Agency (YCA) is a New Orleans based youth-centered design studio. YCA serves as a training space where young people learn foundational design skills and client processes through real-world client projects in collaboration with pro mentors. The studio found its home at Youth Empowerment Project.

S.O.U.L (Sisters Organizing for Understanding & Leadership) Sisters Leadership Collective (SSLC) mobilizes systems-involved girls and nonbinary youth of color to build power and resist/disrupt all forms of violence, economic exploitation, and oppression. Their four pillars are leadership, radical artistic expression, healing, and social justice. Growing out of the dire need for gender-specific services and leadership development for young women impacted by school pushout and the justice system in urban areas, SSLC launched in August of 2014 in Miami and NYC.