According to a source, Denver aims to provide 140 homeless women, transgender individuals, and “non-binary” individuals free phones and $12,000 each over the course of the upcoming year as part of a larger collaboration with a local group.
According to a plan the city council authorized, the money, which totals around $1.7 million, will come from a $2 million money pool from the fed. American Rescue Plan Act, reported by Axios. Denver is the newest Democratic-run city to test out universal basic income thanks to the unconditional cash grant.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said in a statement that “the Denver Basic Income Foundation is a chance to examine how the philanthropic society and the private sector can greatly enhance public support for those who live in poverty, especially our houseless neighbors, and stretch that hand up to stability.”
The Denver Basic Income Program, a nonprofit organization, will administer the city’s funding. It aims to generate $9 million to distribute to 820 estimated homeless women, transgender Americans, and non-binary people.
Mark Donovan, the founder of the Denver Basic Income Project, told Axios that nonprofits like the Denver Foundation and the Colorado Health Foundation had provided the majority of the money for the initiative. Those qualified for the stipends will be chosen by Donovan’s team.
As thrilled as we are about it, Angie Nelson, assistant head of the city’s Homelessness Resolution program, told the website that applications couldn’t be made over the phone.
Reported by DenverHomelessOutLoud.org, there are only 2,000 shelter beds available for the city’s 3,500 homeless residents. Many people pitch their tents in public areas, which bothers local businesses and homeowners.
Many believe the Mile-High City’s homeless population boom is related to the drug’s legalization ten years ago, despite the denial of city officials. In 2018, CNN was informed by Tom Luehrs, executive director of Denver’s Saint Francis Center, that marijuana was luring travelers to the city and into its homeless shelter.
He remarked, “We’ve seen that over the previous few years.
As part of an experiment on the efficacy of a guaranteed basic income, the organization intends to provide 260 individuals $6,500 upfront, followed by $500 each month for the following 11 months; 260 individuals $1,000 per month for one year; and 300 people $50 monthly month. Each participant will receive a free phone and a year of service.
The Colorado Coalition for Homeless people will assist recipients in finding housing while also keeping an eye on how they use the funds.
Nelson claimed that since the COVID pandemic started, the total number of homeless females in Denver has increased by thrice. According to her, it might be difficult for non-binary and trans homeless people to locate secure and “embracing” shelters.
Universal Basic Income systems are similar in Chicago and Los Angeles. While L.A. launched a program just last month that will offer a $1,000 monthly allowance to 1,000 people for three years, the Windy City is paying $30 million to provide 5,000 needy people $500 per month.
