Fresno’s first guaranteed income program will hand out $900,000 to some families

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Fresno County’s first guaranteed income program launched on Monday giving 150 lucky families a monthly boost to their income.

The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission says the poverty-fighting initiative used a lottery system to randomly select 150 qualified families who applied to the program from Southwest Fresno and Huron.

The selected families received their first of 12 monthly payments of $500 on Monday.

Fresno EOC officials say Southwest Fresno and Huron were chosen because the two areas have some of the highest levels of concentrated poverty in Fresno, with over 30% of residents experiencing financial hardship.

“Economic security and dignity are essential to wellness, and guaranteed income programs protect people and families from financial distress by ensuring they have funds to put toward what they know they need, we look forward to learning from Fresno and other communities how these programs link to improved health and wellness.”

California Wellness Foundation CEO Richard Tate

To qualify for the program applicants must be:

• An adult over 18
• Reside in the 93706 or 93234 zip codes
• Be pregnant or have a child five years old or younger
• Have an income that is 80% or less of the Area Medium Income.

Advancing Fresno County Guaranteed Income will celebrate the launch of the program on Wednesday at the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission Local Conservation Corps. The event starts at 10 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.