Providence's guaranteed income program gets six month extension with ARPA funds

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on Monday announced a six-month extension of the city's guaranteed-income program using $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

The program, launched last year, offers $500 monthly payments to 110 randomly selected participants, all of whose incomes were at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Those payments were set to end in October but will now be continued.

Brandi Landry, a Providence resident who was homeless in the past but found an apartment using the income, called it "a blessing."

"It's not just about the money," she said. "It's about what comes after that. Now I can kind of change my future around and make different decisions and go different directions."

The program's extension means Landry can go "a little longer to get a little further," she said.

Elorza, reflecting on his own youth on Cranston Street, described his family as "very humble and incredibly poor," though his parents earned two incomes and, unlike some children in his neighborhood, Elorza had a father who was present in his life.

"I was one of the fortunate ones," the mayor said. 'However, we know that being poor is not only difficult, but being poor is expensive. There’s certain challenges that once you find yourself in ... quicksand that keeps pulling you down, it is harder and harder for you just to do the basics that other people take for granted."

Who is in the guaranteed income program?

According to the Center for Guaranteed Income Research, part of the national network Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Providence recipients are 24% male and 76% female, with a reported median monthly income of $913. At 45%, Hispanic or Latino participants make up the single largest share of recipients, while 31% are white, 19% are Black, 5% are Asian and 38% identify as other races, meaning they may be multiracial or an ethnic makeup not listed.

Previous coverage: Providence's guaranteed-income kicks off: Here's the demographics of those selected

Groups hope program will continue with new mayor

Amos House President and CEO Eileen Hayes said she had spoken to mayoral candidates about continuing the program during their potential tenure, but none of the three candidates — Gonzalo Cuervo, Nirva LaFortune and Brett Smiley — had yet indicated their support. Amos House administers the program along with Dorcas International, a local organization that helps immigrants settle, find jobs and achieve citizenship.

More news: Providence mayoral candidates have notably similar campaigns. Here are the differences

Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg echoed that point, contending that the six-month extension isn't long enough and that he will work with the next mayor to extend it further.

Elorza said he is not interested in playing mayor once his term is up, but is continuing to advocate for the program while he's in office, hoping the next mayor will pay attention to data being collected on the program's effectiveness.

"All I ask is for leadership at the city level, and frankly at the state level, too, to follow the data where it leads us, and I'm confident that the data's going to tell us that there are compelling reasons to invest in a program like this," Elorza said. "And then I'll leave it to the decision makers to make those decisions in the future."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Guaranteed income program in Providence extended for six months