Richmond Resilience Initiative (RRI)

The Richmond Resilience Initiative (RRI) was launched in 2020 by Mayor Levar Stoney.

94

participants

$500

monthly payment

2 Years

duration

$1,128,000

invested in community

logo
Pilot Features  
Number of Participants94 individuals
Amount$500
FrequencyMonthly
Program DatesOctober 2020-May 2025
EligibilityCity of Richmond resident; enrolled in the Office of Community Wealth Building workforce program; not currently receiving federal benefits, including housing vouchers and Medicaid; employed and earning more than $12.71 (the full-time wage federal benefits threshold); have children under the age of 18 living in the household; and for the third cohort only, are a returning citizen.

About the Richmond Resilience Initiative (RRI)

The Richmond Resilience Initiative (RRI), Mayor Levar Stoney’s guaranteed income pilot, was established in 2020 to support residents in the city of Richmond, Virginia impacted by the ‘cliff effect.’ Through its partnership with Mayors for a Guaranteed Income and UpTogether, the City of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building in the Human Services portfolio, is engaging individuals and families who neither make a living wage nor qualify for federal benefits due to their household income. RRI, now on its third cohort, strives to help residents thrive and not merely survive by offering a $250-$500 monthly supplement to their income for 24 consecutive months. Additionally, the Office of Community Wealth Building, in collaboration with the Richmond City Treasurer’s Office of Financial Empowerment, provides participants with financial literacy education. The Richmond Resilience Initiative is supported through funding provided by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, the Robins Foundation, the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Data last updated on 12/20/2022.

Demographic Data for Study Participants

Median Annual Household income

RRI

$15,600

Richmond, VA

$58,988

Annual Household Income (Mean)

$14,771

Sample Size

18

Avg. Age of Respondent

41

Avg. Children in Household

2

Avg. Household Size

4

gender

Male

31.00%

Female

69.00%

Other

0.00%

marital status

Married

6.25%

Single

87.50%

Partnered/In-Relationship

6.25%

children in household

Yes

81.25%

No

18.75%

race

White

0.00%

African American

94.00%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.00%

Asian

0.00%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.00%

Latino

0.00%

Other/Mixed

6.00%

ethnicity

Hispanic

0.00%

Non-Hispanic

100.00%

primary language at home

English

100.00%

Spanish

0.00%

Other

0.00%

Economic Context for Pilot Participants

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.

Start of Covid-19 PandemicJan 2019MarMayJulSepNovJan 2020MarMayJulSepNovJan 2021MarMayJulSepNovJan 2022MarMayJulSepNovJan 2023MarMayJulSepNovJan 2024MarMayJulSepNovJan 2025MarMayJulSepNovJan 202602468101214161820Unemployment02468101214161820Inflation
Unemployment  
Inflation  
Pilot Timeline
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Anonymous

Participating in the RRI pilot has given her the financial stability to afford daycare, pay down debt and improve her credit score.

Anonymous

Richmond Resilience Initiative (RRI)

Richmond, VA

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