The San Diego for Every Child Guaranteed Income Project was launched in 2022 by Jewish Family Service of San Diego in partnership with Mayor Todd Gloria (San Diego) and Alejandra Sotelo-Solis (National City).
150
participants
$500
monthly payment
2 Years
duration
$1,800,000
invested in community
| Program Features | |
|---|---|
| Number of Participants | 150 individuals |
| Amount | $500 |
| Frequency | monthly |
| Program Dates | March 2022-February 2024 |
| Eligibility | 18 years old or older, with a child who is 12 yrs old or under in the household, and living within the zip codes: 92114 (Encanto/San Diego), 92139 (Paradise Hills/San Diego), 91950 (National City), and 92173 (San Ysidro). |
Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) supports 150 families – predominantly families of color – in San Diego and National City with cash payments that the families use for their most prevalent needs, whether it’s putting food on the table, repairing a car to get to work, buying medicine to treat a loved one or paying rent. The program is designed as an economic justice tool to help address the racial and gender inequities that impact the lives of children experiencing poverty, many of whom were hit hardest by COVID-19 and struggling to make ends meet before the pandemic. Through this program, JFS seeks to understand the impact of deploying direct cash to help address the root causes of poverty while illuminating systems-level changes needed to create a San Diego that works for every child.
Pilot concluded in 2024.
$44,797
$38,000
21.2%
20%
37.3%
31%
31.2%
40%
8.5%
8%
STOCKTON
STATE MEDIAN
SDEC
$20,576
San Diego, CA
$100,010
Annual Household Income (Mean)
$18,882
Sample Size
150
Avg. Age of Respondent
36
Avg. Children in Household
2
Avg. Household Size
4
Male
25%
Female
74%
Other
1%
Married
28%
Single
60%
Partnered/In-Relationship
12%
Yes
100%
No
0%
White
8%
African American
29%
American Indian/Alaska Native
1%
Asian
12%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
4%
Latino
52%
Other/Mixed
46%
Hispanic
60%
Non-Hispanic
40%
English
73%
Spanish
23%
Other
4%
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 false participants in San Diego, CA. This includes all non-cash expenditures from the participants' pre-paid debit card that is loaded with guaranteed income payments monthly.
Spending breakdown
Food and groceries accounted for the largest share of spending, at 37.46%, followed by Retail sales and services (29.99%) and Transport related expenses (13.17%).
