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Mayors for a Guaranteed Income
Durham's Guaranteed Income Pilot, Excel, is no longer accepting applications. Disbursements to selected individuals began on March 15, 2022 and ended on February 15, 2023. Final pilot evaluation results are expected to be released in August 2024. |
About Mayors for a Guaranteed Income
In September of 2020, former Mayor Steve Schewel joined Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), a network of mayors across the country committed to advancing local pilots and the national conversation around guaranteed income. A guaranteed income is a monthly, cash payment given directly to individuals. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. This monthly, cash payment to individuals is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and be a tool to close the racial and gender income gap. It is MGI’s belief that these direct, recurring cash payments will lift all of our communities and build a more resilient, just America. Since its establishment in June 2020, the coalition has created an increase in support for guaranteed income policy across the country.
About Durham's Pilot Program
Durham's Guaranteed Income Pilot, Excel, is no longer accepting applications. Disbursements to selected individuals began on March 15, 2022 and ended on February 15, 2023. Final pilot evaluation results are expected to be released in August 2024.
Durham's pilot program focusing on formerly incarcerated individuals is currently being planned for an official launch in 2022.
Justice involvement comes with many collateral consequences. Individuals often struggle to find employment, applying sometimes for over a hundred jobs before finding a low wage job or just giving up. Individuals may aspire to start their own business or to invest in training for a better job, but may lack the funds to pursue these dreams. These financial hardships may be borne by family members and may place added strain on these important relationships. We believe a guaranteed income can help ensure a successful transition home by providing a much needed additional source of income to give people time to build a new life.
We believe that ongoing, direct cash payments can have the dual effect of stabilizing families and stimulating the local economy, that families are best positioned to know their needs and cash transfer programs that come with no strings attached give families the agency they need to address them. Furthermore, guaranteed income is part of a wider set of policies needed in our country to address rising income inequality. Our vision in embarking on this demonstration project in coalition with cities across the county is to strengthen a national value that declares there exists a floor beneath which we will allow no person to fall simply by virtue of their humanity. American cities are laboratories of democracy, and that it is incumbent upon cities to help advance and build evidence in support of transformative new approaches that hold promise for future generations.
August 19, 2021 | StepUp Durham Selected as Administrator of City's Guaranteed Income PilotOn Monday, August 16, 2021, City Council voted to authorize a contract with StepUp Durham to administer Durham’s Guaranteed Income Pilot. Learn more. |
August 31, 2021 | Pilot OverviewTo learn more about how the Durham Guaranteed Income Pilot will work, please see our one-pager. More information regarding recruitment for individuals who may be eligible to participate in this pilot will be released by StepUp Durham in the coming months. |
September 7, 2021 | Durham's Guaranteed Income Pilot is now called ExcelDurham's Guaranteed Income Pilot is now called Excel. Completing a pre-screen form is the first step in seeing if you are eligible for the pilot. If you are, your name will be added to an interest list. Within 60 days, you will receive more information on the next step. Learn more about Excel and submit a pre-screen form. If you need assistance completing the form or have additional questions, please contact StepUp's Excel Coordinator at (919) 813-0207. |
November 15, 2021 | City of Durham seeks Benefits Counselor to support ExcelWe are searching for a highly motivated individual to serve as Benefits Counselor for up to 115 selected pilot participants. To comply with the informed consent standards of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and in alignment with the values of agency and trusting residents to make the best decisions for themselves, this temporary, contract position will meet individually with participants during the pilot’s onboarding phase (est. 6 weeks), to ensure program participants are informed of the potential impact on any public benefits they are currently receiving. Learn more about the position. |
January 5, 2022 | The Excel Application has Launched!To qualify to be one of the 129 individuals randomly selected for the Excel pilot, individuals must fill out this survey, which will take between 30-60 minutes to complete. If you need technical assistance to complete the survey, please call the Excel Coordinator at 919-695-7764 to set up an appointment to use a computer at ReCity, located at 112 Broadway St, Durham, NC 27701. The survey will be live until 11:59pm on January 23, 2022. After that time, 129 Excel participants will be selected to receive $500/month starting in March. Additionally, 138 Excel Partners will be randomly selected. As a reminder, the Partners are individuals who will receive $30 payments for their completion of surveys provided by our Research Fellow. StepUp Durham will only notify Excel Participants regarding their selection.For additional assistance, contact the Excel Coordinator at 919-695-7764. |
January 23, 2022 | Excel Application Closes and Participants Selected |
The 129 individuals to receive $500/month have been selected. We have received our list of Excel Participants, and the first phase of the onboarding process will start. Those who have been selected to move forward will begin receiving calls from StepUp Durham. If a person does not receive a phone call, that means that they were not selected for this pilot. We will be unable to answer questions from individuals who were not selected. For additional assistance, contact the Excel Coordinator at 919-695-7764. |
July 22, 2022 | Save-the-Date: Stories of Guaranteed IncomeJoin Durham Neighbors, Step Up Durham, and the City of Durham to gather and share food, family-friendly fun, and stories of guaranteed income in our city. We'll have some activities the kids will enjoy so mark your calendars for a lively time at Ninth Street Bakery in Durham. Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 10 AM - 1 PM at Ninth Street Bakery, 136 E. Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701 |
October 6, 2022 | Six Months In: New Data Dashboard Finds Excel Helps Recipients Afford Basic NecessitiesThe initial spending and demographic results of Excel, Durham’s guaranteed income pilot were rolled out as part of a major, nationwide step forward for the guaranteed income movement. Mayors for a Guaranteed Income’s new data dashboard shows that in Durham and around the country, families are using their need-based cash payments to cover necessities in an uncertain economy — providing them with the opportunity, freedom and resilience they need to build financial security. “The first six months of our pilot data reflects much of what I expected. It shows that individuals are spending these funds in the same ways that you and I would to support our own families. The monthly funds are providing a vital bridge to secure food and basic needs products and transportation services that each of us rely on every day to survive and thrive. We must continue to build an infrastructure around those that have been left out of our communities for far too long. Guaranteed income is one way to do that," said Mayor O’Neal. |
June 14, 2023 | Get the Latest Excel Spending DataStay up to dates on the spending data for Durham's Guaranteed Income Pilot at on the Stanford Basic Income Lab's dashboard. |
There are no current RFPs for this pilot. |
June 15, 2021 | Updated RFP ReleaseOn June 15, 2021 the City of Durham will reissue a request for proposals to identify a program administrator for its Guaranteed Income Pilot. Ideally, the successful applicant has previous experience working with justice-involved individuals and re-entry supports. The successful applicant for the pilot program will also have demonstrated capacity to provide a range of implementation services related to the GI pilot program, including but not limited to outreach and recruitment, applicant intake and determining eligibility, communications, media, and branding, fundraising, and stakeholder management. Request for Proposal Summary (PDF) June 17, 2021: RFP Workshop Presentation (PDF) June 22, 2021: Addendum No.1 RFP Durham Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Administrator (PDF) June 25, 2021: Addendum No.2 RFP Durham Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Administrator (PDF) Proposal applications should be submitted as via email in PDF format to [email protected] by Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 5:00 pm. Late proposal applications will not be considered and deemed ineligible. |
August 19, 2021 | StepUp Durham Selected as Administrator of City's Guaranteed Income PilotOn Monday, August 16, 2021, City Council voted to authorize a contract with StepUp Durham to administer Durham’s Guaranteed Income Pilot. Learn more. |
January 7, 2021: Durham Residents Might Receive a Guaranteed Universal Basic Income (INDY Week)
January 11, 2021: Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program could be first step in curbing poverty in Durham, advocates say (WNCN)
January 15, 2021: Durham mayor joins call for guaranteed income during and after pandemic (WNCN)
February 1, 2021: Durham city leaders consider guaranteed basic income program (WRAL)
February 2, 2021: Durham Council Member Says City Residents Who Were Formerly Incarcerated Should Receive Guaranteed Incomes (INDY Week)
February 23, 2021: The Pros and Cons of Universal Basic Income: Unconditional cash payments to residents are more of a floor to stand on than a safety net, say these Carolina scholars in light of a proposed pilot project to give $500 per month to formerly incarcerated Durham, North Carolina, residents. (The Well)
March 4, 2021: California Program Giving $500 No-Strings-Attached Stipends Pays Off, Study Finds (NPR)
July 9, 2021: Podcast: Testing a Guaranteed Income Program in Durham, NC
August 19, 2021: StepUp Durham Selected as Administrator of City's Guaranteed Income Pilot (City Press Release)
September 10, 2021: Newly-launched guaranteed income program giving some in Durham $500 a month (WRAL)
September 14, 2021: Durham organization providing $500 monthly checks to the formerly incarcerated: Here's how to apply (WTVD)
October 26, 2021: Some Durham Residents Will Soon Receive a Guaranteed Monthly Income of $500 (Indy Week)
December 10, 2021: Hundreds already interested in being part of Durham's guaranteed income project (WRAL)
December 29, 2021: Anonymous donor gives Durham $100,000 to expand grants to formerly incarcerated people (News & Observer)
January 6, 2022: Apply today: Durham nonprofit launches guaranteed income program for the formerly incarcerated (CBS17)
January 18, 2022: Durham Guaranteed Basic Income to select 129 participants from pool of formerly incarcerated people (CBS17)
March 16, 2022: Why Durham is now giving $600 a month to over 100 people back from prison (News & Observer)
March 25, 2022: I look forward: Mom opens up about her life as guaranteed income begins for former inmates (Spectrum News)
March 31, 2022: Durham launches long-awaited guaranteed basic income program (WRAL)
May 17, 2022: How a free monthly stipend has completely changed the life of a former inmate in Durham How a free monthly stipend has completely changed the life of a former inmate in DurhamHow a free monthly stipend has completely changed the life of a former inmate in Durham (Spectrum News)
July 22, 2022: Durham guaranteed basic income program helps former prisoners readjust to society (CBS17)
September 20, 2022: Durham's guaranteed income program gives $500 a month to former inmates (The Center Square North Carolina)
October 9, 2022: Here's how a guaranteed $600 per month is changing lives in Durham (WRAL)
January 5, 2023: 'I have a big girl job': Durham program providing stipend to ex-offenders sees success (ABC11)
January 26, 2023: Durham's guaranteed income pilot program for the formerly incarcerated sees success in first year, hopes for additional funding (Duke Chronicle)
January 27, 2023: GUARANTEED INCOME Americans could be in line for new $600 monthly checks for a year – who might be eligible (The U.S. Sun)
February 15, 2023: StepUp Durham Helps Formerly Incarcerated Residents Get Jobs And Monthly Stipends (Spectacular Magazine)
March 1, 2023: Future of Durham's guaranteed income program in jeopardy after funding runs out (WRAL)
March 15, 2023: Durham’s Mayor Pro Tem Wants to Keep the City’s Successful Guaranteed Basic Income Program Going (IndyWeek)
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