Basic Income Guaranteed: Los Angeles Economic Assistance Pilot (BIG: LEAP) was launched in 2022.
3,200
participants
$1,000
monthly payment
1 Year
duration
$38,424,000
invested in community
| Pilot Features | |
|---|---|
| Number of Participants | 3,200 individuals |
| Amount | $1,000 |
| Frequency | monthly |
| Program Dates | January 2022-March 2023 |
| Eligibility | Resident of Los Angeles, 18 years or older, with at least one dependent child (younger than 18 or a student younger than 24) or are pregnant, with income at or below the federal poverty level. |
Basic Income Guaranteed: Los Angeles Economic Assistance Pilot (BIG:LEAP) is administered by the Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department, whose goal is to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty through innovative programs and policies. As housing prices rise, about one in two Angelenos spend most of their income on rent. One in ten Angelenos don’t know where their next meal will come from. Paying for school supplies, medical expenses, and car payments are among the necessities people in poverty must sacrifice. Living paycheck-to-paycheck means the overwhelming and costly demands of the present supersede any hope of saving for the future. In response, BIG:LEAP payments are unconditional and direct, allowing Angelenos experiencing poverty to meet their most pressing needs. Participants are located throughout the City of Los Angeles, but are concentrated in the Council Districts with greater levels of poverty. In addition to fighting economic inequality at the local level, BIG:LEAP hopes to add to the research on Guaranteed Income programs and contribute to the national narrative on why such programs are an effective complement to the social safety net.
Data last updated on 9/30/2023.
$44,797
$38,000
21.2%
20%
37.3%
31%
31.2%
40%
8.5%
8%
STOCKTON
STATE MEDIAN
BIG:LEAP
$11,097
Los Angeles, CA
$76,135
Annual Household Income (Mean)
$14,585
Sample Size
3202
Avg. Age of Respondent
38
Avg. Children in Household
2
Avg. Household Size
3
Male
19.68%
Female
79.92%
Other
0.40%
Married
21.56%
Single
65.14%
Partnered/In-Relationship
13.30%
Yes
92.75%
No
7.25%
White
12.08%
African American
29.20%
American Indian/Alaska Native
1.34%
Asian
3.65%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.46%
Latino
48.58%
Other/Mixed
53.27%
Hispanic
59.40%
Non-Hispanic
40.60%
English
66.67%
Spanish
28.64%
Other
4.69%
The guaranteed income pilot launched during a period of dynamic change and economic challenges for pilot participants. The chart below situates this pilot in the context of unemployment and inflation.
The data in this pie chart shows aggregate spending for guaranteed income participants in Los Angeles, CA. This includes all non-cash expenditures from the participants' pre-paid debit card that is loaded with guaranteed income payments monthly.
Spending breakdown
Retail sales and services accounted for the largest share of spending, at 33.21%, followed by Food and groceries (32.88%) and Transport related expenses (10.11%).
