Department of
Health & Human Services

Long Beach, CA – This January, the City of Long Beach will open applications to expand its guaranteed income pilot program, known as the Long Beach Pledge, to include a second cohort of 200 additionally funded households. This expansion will be available to households with children living under the federal poverty level in five Long Beach zip codes. Those selected for the Long Beach Pledge will receive $500 a month for 12 months.

“I’m proud that we are expanding the Long Beach Pledge to a second cohort of families in West and North Long Beach,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We’re giving vulnerable families in our city direct financial support that will help them pay for needs like housing, bills, groceries, and emergencies. That can make a big difference in helping folks stay afloat throughout the new year.”

The online application for the second cohort will be available in early January at longbeachpledge.org/apply and will be available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog. Applicants without computer or smartphone access may visit a public computer lab at any open Long Beach Public Library location and can receive computer assistance from Library staff at the Family Learning Centers at Billy Jean King Main Library and Michelle Obama Library. Selected applicants will be notified in early 2024 and payments are anticipated to begin in spring 2024.

Below are the eligibility requirements for the Long Beach Pledge Expansion. Residents should only apply if they meet all the following criteria:

• Households with dependent children and gross household income (before taxes) of 100% or less of the federal poverty level. This number depends on how many individuals are in your household/family unit.
• Residents in the 90802, 90804, 90805,90806, and 90810 zip code.

Families that are not eligible can find out about other available resources through the Resource Line by calling 562.570.4246.

Originally made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, the Long Beach Pledge is expanding with $1.2 million in funding made available through the City’s local homelessness emergency proclamation. This is in effort to implement additional upstream homelessness prevention strategies and supports one of the City’s identified goals established at the start of the emergency, “to invest in innovative solutions to prevent families from becoming homeless.” Additional information about the Homelessness Emergency response is available at longbeach.gov/homelessness/.

“Expanding the City’s guaranteed income pilot program is an upstream prevention strategy that will provide critical funding for families to cover basic needs, work towards financial stability, and possible life changing diversion from experiencing homelessness,” said Alison King, Acting Director of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“This expansion of the Long Beach Pledge program is an indicator of the positive impact this program has had on our low-income families,” said Department of Economic Development Director Bo Martinez. “Our team provides resources and support for some our most vulnerable families to support their recovery after the pandemic.”

During the Dec. 5, 2023, meeting, the Long Beach City Council approved with a 7 to 0 vote to extend the City’s contracts with Fund for Guaranteed Income and California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation, required to expand the program.

The City previously announced the Long Beach Pledge Guaranteed Income Pilot application period in November 2022. During the first cohort of Long Beach Pledge there were 2,800 applications received with 250 single-headed families with children in the 90813 selected. There are 250 beneficiaries of the program whose households are made up of 937 total members including 583 children. Program criteria were designed by a Community Working Group to target families hardest hit economically by the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and concentrate program impact in Long Beach with the highest need. Payments for the first cohort will continue as planned through April 2024.

The City’s Department of Economic Development is leading the Guaranteed Income Pilot Program and overseeing all activity with the program partner, Fund for Guaranteed Income (F4GI), which is facilitating the payment and administrative platform, informing participants of additional supportive services and managing the disbursement of monthly payments to participants via four payment options.

The City is also partnering with California State University, Long Beach Research Foundation to study the pilot and evaluate its impact on low-income families from both cohorts. The research and evaluation will include a randomized control trial by the foundation.

More information about the Long Beach Pledge is available on the program website at longbeachpledge.org/.