West Hollywood Pilot for Guaranteed Income
West Hollywood Pilot for Guaranteed Income was launched in 2022.
25
participants
$1,000
monthly payment
1.5 Years
duration
$450,000
invested in community
| Program Features | |
|---|---|
| Number of Participants | 25 individuals |
| Amount | $1,000 |
| Frequency | monthly |
| Program Dates | August 2022-January 2024 |
| Eligibility | Adults over 50 years of age, housed or unhoused resident of West Hollywood, and living on $41,400 or less. |
About the West Hollywood Pilot for Guaranteed Income
The City of West Hollywood was created by LGBT activists, older adults, and renters seeking a place to live where they would be free from discrimination and safely age in their community. Since then, the City has crafted housing policies that stabilize rental costs and prohibit discrimination, invested in affordable and inclusionary housing, and developed the West Hollywood Pilot for Guaranteed Income. The City, in partnership with National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles, launched the first pilot in the country for older adults living on a low-income and based on state and local data: residents over the age of 50 are now the fastest growing population of homeless people in many parts of the state; and West Hollywood residents ages 55+ comprise 23% of the City’s population, but 44% of residents living in poverty. The pilot’s goals are to help community members age in place, prevent homelessness, reduce the stressors of financial insecurity, as well as capture qualitative data to provide insight into income challenges facing older adults.
Pilot concluded in 2024.
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COMMUNITY FEATURES
$44,797
$38,000
Median household income
21.2%
20%
Poverty rate
37.3%
31%
Housing burden
31.2%
40%
Childcare cost burden
8.5%
8%
Unemployment rate
STOCKTON
STATE MEDIAN
Demographic Data for Study Participants
Median Annual Household income
WHPGI
$24,000
West Hollywood, CA
$78,719
Annual Household Income (Mean)
$22,206
Sample Size
22
Avg. Age of Respondent
66
Avg. Children in Household
0
Avg. Household Size
1
gendermarital statuschildren in household
Male
59%
Female
41%
Other
0%
Married
9%
Single
82%
Partnered/In-Relationship
9%
Yes
0%
No
100%
race
White
95%
African American
0%
American Indian/Alaska Native
0%
Asian
0%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
Latino
0%
Other/Mixed
5%
ethnicityprimary language at home
Hispanic
19%
Non-Hispanic
81%
English
100%
Spanish
0%
Other
0%
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.
Unemployment
Inflation
Pilot Timeline
Spending Breakdown
The data in this pie chart shows aggregate spending for guaranteed income participants in West Hollywood, 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 32.2%, followed by Retail sales and services (25.39%) and Healthcare/Medical expenses (19.64%).
