Applications for basic income program underway

SHREVEPORT, La. - The exertion process is underway for the nationalist to registry for the Shreveport Universal Basic Income Program (UBI).

The aviator programme is simply a associated effort betwixt the city, Caddo Parish and United Way of Northwest Louisiana. Interested participants tin registry at www.shreveportla.gov through Jan. 17.

There volition beryllium 110 families selected and eligible to person $660 a period for a year. Shreveport residents who are single parents with an income beneath 120% of the Federal Poverty Level volition beryllium eligible. The programme defines a azygous genitor arsenic a mother, father, stepparent, grandparent, caregiver, oregon ineligible guardian with a school-age child. The nonmigratory indispensable beryllium functionally single, whether joined oregon unmarried. If unmarried, the nonmigratory cannot beryllium surviving with a partner.

"An estimated 25% of the citizens successful Shreveport are surviving successful poorness and a guaranteed income would empower recipients to code their astir urgent time to time needs and unpredictable expenses,” said Mayor Adrian Perkins. “UBI with the resources astatine the Shreveport Financial Empowerment Center would make a catalyst for amended acquisition outcomes, substantive improvements successful carnal and intelligence health, important simplification of predatory debt, and greater assurance successful having basal necessities met.”

Perkins joined Mayors for a Guaranteed Income successful 2020. MGI is simply a conjugation of mayors committed to advancing a national guaranteed income – direct, recurring currency payments to the mediocre and mediate class. A guaranteed income is simply a monthly, unconditional currency outgo fixed straight to randomly selected families oregon individuals.

The Shreveport City Council approved a solution to person $500,000 from MGI for the program. The Caddo Parish Commission approved the appropriation of $432,000 for matching funds.

The United Way’s Financial Empowerment Center volition beryllium accepting walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. connected Monday – Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. connected Friday for those who request assistance with filling retired the application.

The lone time they volition not beryllium disposable is Jan. 17.

In-person assistance volition besides beryllium provided from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. connected Tuesday astatine Airport Park Recreation Center and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Thursday astatine the David Raines Recreation Center.

If you are selected to enactment you volition beryllium contacted astir 3 weeks aft the adjacent of the exertion period.