The city of Salem, Massachusetts is launching a new pilot program called Uplift Salem, which will give $500 per month to 100 residents for a year. The program is designed to help people struggling to make ends meet, with no restrictions on how the money can be spent.
Huge Demand for the Program
The program was so popular that officials had to close registration early due to an “astounding” amount of demand. To qualify, residents must live in Salem and have a household income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level.
Mayor Hopes for Larger Programs in the Future
Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo says he hopes the program will be a model for larger guaranteed income programs in the future. He believes it will help make Salem more affordable for everyone and hopes the results will encourage more state and federal support for similar initiatives.
Funding and Timeline
The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and a private contribution from the nonprofit organization UpTogether. Participants will be randomly selected from eligible applications and will receive their first payments by December 1st.
