The Economic Security Project (ESP), an organization founded in 2016 and comprised of 100 entrepreneurs, activists, researchers, and philanthropists, is advocating for the establishment of a permanent guaranteed income program in California, funded by taxpayer dollars [1]. ESP has played a significant role in launching over 100 guaranteed income pilot programs across the United States, with California leading the nation by hosting more than 60 such pilots [1].
Economic Security California, a state affiliate of ESP, is focused on transitioning from temporary cash pilot initiatives to permanent, influential policies that expand and modernize direct cash support programs [1]. The group emphasizes the importance of building a fair and equitable tax system and ensuring that individuals receive the credits they deserve through simple and automatic tax filing [1].
ESP recommends that government agencies consider public funding mechanisms beyond philanthropy to sustain guaranteed income programs, suggesting options such as dedicated local taxes and reallocating affordability-focused investments into direct cash supports [1]. As an example, Breathe: LA County’s Guaranteed Income program is entirely publicly funded through the county’s Poverty Alleviation Initiative, while other cities have utilized American Rescue Plan Act funds to support their pilots [1]. However, with the expiration of these federal pandemic recovery funds—legally obligated by the end of 2024 and to be fully spent by December—some local governments are seeking alternative revenue sources [1].
Cook County, Illinois, the second-largest county in the U.S., has continued its guaranteed basic income program beyond its initial 2022 pilot by allocating $7.5 million from its local county budget, demonstrating a shift toward long-term local funding in the absence of federal aid [1]. ESP describes guaranteed income as a 'power response' to affordability challenges in the U.S. [1].
CONCLUSION
The Economic Security Project and its California affiliate are advocating for a permanent, taxpayer-funded guaranteed income program in California, highlighting the need for sustainable public funding as federal pandemic aid expires. With California leading in pilot programs and other regions like Cook County shifting to local funding, the movement signals a potential long-term policy shift toward direct cash support.