PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – Today, the City of Long Beach launched the application period for the Long Beach Pledge, the City’s guaranteed income pilot program. The program will provide $500 a month for 12 months to 250 families with children who live in the 90813 zip code, are below 100% of the federal poverty line and have one income earner for their household. The application is open for eligible residents now through Jan. 17, 2023, at 4:59 p.m. (PST).

“I want to encourage all eligible residents to apply for the City’s guaranteed income program,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This is an amazing opportunity to help get direct assistance to Long Beach families with some of the greatest need — and it represents a huge step forward in our continued recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic.”

The online application is now open at longbeachpledge.org/apply and is available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Applicants without computer or smartphone access may visit a public computer lab at any open Long Beach Public Library location.

The Long Beach Pledge will serve single-headed families with children living at or below the poverty line in the 90813 zip code. Below are the eligibility requirements. Residents should only apply if they meet all of the following criteria:

• Single-headed families (families with dependent children and a single income earner).
• Residents in the 90813 zip code.
• Gross household income (before taxes) of 100% or less of the federal poverty level. This number depends on how many individuals are in your household/family unit.

Only one member of each household will be eligible to receive benefits. Selected applicants will be notified after the application period closes and will be asked to submit documents verifying they meet the eligibility criteria.

These criteria were designed by a Community Working Group to target families hardest hit economically by the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and concentrate program impact in the area of Long Beach with the highest need. Families that are not eligible can find out about other available resources through the Resource Line by calling 562.570.4246.

The City previously announced the new Long Beach Pledge website for the Guaranteed Income Pilot. More program details, including eligibility, are available on the Long Beach Pledge website at longbeachpledge.org. Long Beach residents interested in participating in the program or learning more should sign up for the newsletter to receive program updates, which will include information about commencement of payments and other key program milestones.

The City of Long Beach Economic Development Department will lead the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program and oversee all activity with partners. The City previously sought a partner to administer the Long Beach Guaranteed Income Pilot and selected Fund for Guaranteed Income (F4GI). The program will be rigorously evaluated through a Randomized Control Trial by a previously sought independent research team.

This program is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal economic stimulus bill for COVID-19 recovery. A total of $51 million has been allocated to support Economic Recovery which includes $2 million for a Guaranteed Income program and its evaluation. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.