$12,000 To Be Handed Out Per Family As Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Unveiled in US County

A Maryland county with a population of around 330,000 is preparing to send cash to select families with no strings attached.

Howard County says it’s launching its Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program in partnership with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC).

The pilot program will provide economic assistance, wrap-around services and programming sessions from community members.

The CAC will also give participating families $1,000 per month for a period of one year so they can prioritize household needs.

To be eligible for the program, a family should have a reported household income between 150 and 300 of the Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Poverty Limits based on household size.

The 20 families that were selected have household sizes ranging from two to five people. They also have children ranging from infants to 17 years old.

The county and the CAC expect participants to increase their household incomes, maintain stable housing and consistently meet their household expenses – among other goals – by the end of the program.

Says Howard County Executive Calvin Ball,

“Howard County’s GBI pilot program aims to diminish and uplift families out of poverty, better their lives, and enable them to be more self-sufficient. Through data collection and key outcome measures, this pilot program will inform future County strategies to promote economic mobility and self-sufficiency.”