Starting in February 2019, the City of Stockton began the SEED initiative, a 24-month pilot program giving 125 people who were at or below the median income level, $500 a month. This payment differed from pre-existing social welfare programs as there was no work requirement and the payments were unconditional. The key findings from this program include:
· Guaranteed income reduced income volatility, or the month-to-month income fluctuations that households face.
· Unconditional cash enabled recipients to find full-time employment.
· Recipients of guaranteed income were healthier, showing less depression and anxiety and enhanced wellbeing.
· The guaranteed income alleviated financial scarcity creating new opportunities for self-determination, choice, goal-setting, and risk-taking.
(West et al. 2021; pp.1)
So, what does this mean for urban planning? I posit that we, as planners, can utilize this increased level of risk-taking to further substantiate our experiments in new urban forms and practices. One major hurdle in planning is lack of public participation, and programs like UBI could possibly increase the likelihood of people participating in other experimental urban practices, creating more optimal conditions for planners to gain applicable knowledge about their constituents.
Infographic on the participants and impacts of the SEED program. Image Source: The Appeal; https://theappeal.org/universal-basic-income-stockton-pandemic/
Reference
West, S., Castro Baker, A., Samra, S., & Coltrera, E. (2021). Preliminary Analysis: SEED’s First Year. stocktondemonstration.org. Retrieved 2021, from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6039d612b17d055cac14070f/t/603ef1194c474b329f33c329/1614737690661/SEED_Preliminary+Analysis-SEEDs+First+Year_Final+Report_Individual+Pages+-2.pdf