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Presentation regarding the final report for the South San Francisco Guaranteed Income Pilot Program. (Nell Selander, Economic and Community Development Director, and Danielle Thoe, Housing Manager)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council receive a presentation on the final report for the South San Francisco Guaranteed Income Pilot Program (GIPP).
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In July 2021 City Council approved the creation of the South San Francisco Guaranteed Income Pilot Program (GIPP) utilizing $1,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, $100,000 of San Mateo County Measure K funds, and $100,000 from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The program launched in October 2021, providing $500 per month in unrestricted funds to 160 extremely low-income South San Francisco residents for 12 months. The City contracted with the YMCA Community Resource Center in South San Francisco to serve as the program administrator. The program was intended to provide immediate relief to those most impacted by COVID-19 and resulting shelter in place orders, while also exploring whether $500 per month per household can make a difference in keeping families housed, lowering stress and anxiety, and assisting with food security.
The program started with financial counseling to all participants including three main focus areas; 1) benefits counseling - a review of public benefits to ensure participants understand any impacts the program has on their eligibility to receive benefits, 2) a household budgeting session looking at monthly income and expenses to determine gaps in income with and without the GIPP funds, and 3) opening a bank account to receive GIPP distributions. These financial counseling sessions assisted YMCA staff in understanding participant comfort and proficiency with budgeting and potential resource navigation needs.
As part of their program administration responsibilities the YMCA was required to undertake data coll...
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