Apply By Friday For Guaranteed Basic Income Program's 2nd Phase

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The second phase of the county's Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program will launch July 1 with a new group of participants. The deadline to apply falls on May 29.

Participants in the second phase will receive $500 per month plus an additional $500 per month put into a savings account.

Twenty families participated in the first phase of the GBI pilot program. They received wrap-around services, programming sessions from community partners and $1,000 a month for 12 months to prioritize household needs that would help improve overall economic stability.

“Research shows that innovative GBI programs can transform the lives of families served and that direct, financial support helps families not only stabilize housing and meet immediate needs, but also make longer-term investments in education, employment, and health,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at a news conference. “As we have seen thus far with the success of Phase One, Howard County’s GBI pilot program is helping uplift our community’s families out of poverty, better their lives, enable them to be more self-sufficient and promote economic mobility.”

The second phase's savings account option also will be offered to the first phase's participants. They can opt in to receive $500 for six additional months with $500 going into the same type of account.

“Phase Two of the Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program reflects both innovation and intentionality in how we support families on their path toward long-term stability,” said Tracy Broccolino, president of the Community Action Council of Howard County. “The lessons learned from Phase One reinforced the importance of pairing direct financial support with meaningful financial literacy education and long-term planning tools that help families prepare for success beyond the 12-month pilot period.

"Our continued focus on households with children under the age of 18 also reflects CAC’s commitment to the two-generation approach to service delivery. By integrating our core services to support both children and their caregivers together, we are helping create stronger pathways toward economic self-sufficiency and lasting family stability," Broccolino added.

To be eligible for the second phase of the pilot program, families:

• Must live in Howard County for the full duration of the program
• Must have at least one child 17 years old or younger living in the household
• Must not receive income-based housing assistance (such as Housing Choice Voucher, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP), Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) property or tax credit housing)
• Must have a household income between 150% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level
• Must be willing to meet with CAC staff monthly
• Must be willing to complete a financial literacy program by June 2027
• Must be able to provide documentation to confirm eligibility, if selected

Eligible families can apply to participate through Friday at https://cac-hc.org/gbi2/.