San Diego for Every Child (SDEC) Guaranteed Income Project

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

logo
Program Features  
Number of Participants150 individuals
Amount$500
Frequencymonthly
Program DatesMarch 2022-February 2024
Eligibility18 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).

About the San Diego for Every Child (SDEC) Guaranteed Income Project

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.

Data last updated October 1, 2024.

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Demographic Data for Study Participants

Median Annual Household income

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

gender

Male

25%

Female

74%

Other

1%

marital status

Married

28%

Single

60%

Partnered/In-Relationship

12%

children in household

Yes

100%

No

0%

race

White

8%

African American

29%

American Indian/Alaska Native

1%

Asian

12%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

4%

Latino

52%

Other/Mixed

46%

ethnicity

Hispanic

60%

Non-Hispanic

40%

primary language at home

English

73%

Spanish

23%

Other

4%

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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Spending Breakdown

The data in this pie chart shows aggregate spending for guaranteed income 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%).

Kelvin

“I tell my kids: ‘You’re not going to get everything you want, but I’m going to try and give you everything you need.”

Kelvin

San Diego for Every Child (SDEC) Guaranteed Income Project

San Diego, CA

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