[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6697054,"mediaKeyId","3541796-aff1285f240fa4d8729e585653107246","parentId",3541796,"title","Somerville updates on yearlong guaranteed basic income pilot; officials report reduced stress, cash used for rent and essentials","audioSeconds",3227,"startMs",118000,"endMs",3345000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541796-aff1285f240fa4d8729e585653107246&start=118&end=3345","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541796-aff1285f240fa4d8729e585653107246/thumbnail_118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6697054/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-updates-on-yearlong-guaranteed-basic-income-pilot-officials-report-reduced-stress-cash-used-for-rent-and-essentials","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6697054-818f0336e0b2cc9e5e69880b7187795a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102556&Signature=PbEtkXp-b0FX5h1M9CdRaht4IpjLm5F3xDeu1~Be1aNvFG7tttDo~5H-8WhYwfNmcAjuoyOP80TAMmDND6oRqP0mfmHixbCjS3uiVUYtwy6s0~GZN-KkUQ9W8iMmFIKjTx5AGcvN8m5WkObhJyhh4Ssn0Q7uDcTgKOWrQKDmmJVKAg6ybVB7e1uZ8OtLCJS5gUoeL-6A71sjk0Gd-1PTjEBx1GDDAF-l-xyzWH0qprH~xf8E~mWBbWU3PyxzT~QjmAjsjHHmnU65DW5vYjZvD0eIJvqunKg6cG2fCdsS91hkqBPoNxLokaATBe4zoa~FxdXoGzD2LfuacyliPlKjlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Somerville City, MA","date","2025-05-28T09:44:00Z","article","Somerville officials on May 27 updated the City Council committee on the city's guaranteed basic income (GBI) pilot, saying 200 enrolled households received $750 per month from July 2024 through June 2025 and that early data show participants largely spent the money on rent, food and household needs.

The update, presented by the city's ARPA team and its partners, outlined program design, participant characteristics and preliminary findings from midpoint interviews and vendor spending data. ARPA Director Erica Fernandez said, \"We are distributing $750 per participant monthly. And that occurs from July 2024 to June 2025. In total, that will be over the course of 1 year, dollars 1,800,000.0 total distributed throughout these 200 participants.\" The presentation noted UMass Boston is leading evaluation work.

The committee heard that the pilot enrolled 200 existing clients of the Office of Housing Stability (OHS) or the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) who were experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity or housing crisis. Presenters described the majority of survey respondents as women, about half as parents, and many as renters; just under half of respondents identified as Hispanic/Latina. The baseline survey was conducted in June 2024; a post-program survey and a final evaluation are scheduled for June'July 2025, with a final UMass Boston report due in March 2026.

Presenters and partners said most participant spending traced on the vendor platform was cash withdrawals, followed by food, household and school supplies, and clothing. Staff and researchers told the committee that much of the cash is used for rent and to pay arrears because many landlords and some housing arrangements cannot be billed to a reloadable card. Jenny See, ARPA program manager, and partner organizations said card transactions allowed traceable insights while cash withdrawals required surveys and interviews to understand use.

Officials described qualitative benefits beyond purchases. Fernandez said midpoint interviews and partner reports showed \"decreased stress and anxiety about finances,\" fewer hospital visits reported by some participants, and improved interpersonal connections. The presentation also highlighted that participants valued flexibility and dignity associated with unrestricted cash support.

Staff noted program supports provided by OHS and SFLC, including help locating no-fee ATMs, replacing lost cards and working with the card vendor on refunds. Presenters said the vendor platform blocks purchases at gambling and alcohol merchants.

Committee members asked whether the one-year pilot demonstrates reductions in long-term dependency or permanent exits from poverty. Fernandez and other staff cautioned one year is short to measure structural change, but said the pilot offers evidence that flexible cash can stabilize households. Officials said anecdotal positive outcomes exist but final survey data will give a fuller picture.

The presentation also flagged operational questions for any future program: long-term funding sources and legal constraints, eligibility design, enrollment and data-security burdens, administration and monitoring costs, evaluation and course correction, and wraparound services. Staff recommended documenting decisions made during the pilot to inform later programs.

What's next: OHS and SFLC are conducting transition work and workshops for participants to connect them to other resources. UMass Boston will administer the post-program survey in June 2025 and complete evaluation work in 2026.

Officials said the committee can expect a fuller report and formal evaluation results next year, at which point the City Council and future committees can consider policy and funding decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Somerville City, MA - Equity Committee - 2025-05-27 - May 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff reported preliminary findings from Somerville's guaranteed basic income pilot: 200 enrolled households received $750/month (July 2024–June 2025) and most spending went to rent, food and household goods; final evaluation by UMass Boston due March 2026.","taxTitle","Somerville City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",4564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6697049,"Somerville committee hears plan to convert Founders' Ring to multiuse recreation space; finance items referred for recommendation",2416,3398000,5814000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3541796-aff1285f240fa4d8729e585653107246&start=3398&end=5814","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3541796-aff1285f240fa4d8729e585653107246/thumbnail_3398000.jpg","/articles/6697049/Somerville-City/Middlesex-County/Massachusetts/Somerville-committee-hears-plan-to-convert-Founders-Ring-to-multiuse-recreation-space-finance-items-referred-for-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6697049-c243295b0feea854d7c2becbdb300612/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102556&Signature=oc~14El4LkeFZxkNLxJr5viQr6DbbU5oSx8GRIrDsuyoo401esty-oGFvnhXlpPciov8LDYk6KKoeSndYKCYJSW~RYt8PUXdqAt4wdNGPHc~LuNs-HSNCFvRPjLL3q3GEVHBHvRy8nb1VdQSQhz5NKEWBAi8JgJhKVSVRUF6mbcHfXOkazLr8MGklY4p5rCyvbLAU6fzILFZtwjp1bIAeQO-4cx6mCaZukmGBox4AGgwRXlVgsy1O1~cp45kxpBg4FC0dFT8NZqsXhB0PWIUroo9GD~dNiH9Q9LIVwkmbFiFRe18Gtf-uUU3XOIKyrPGCnFq3neGnLek6IxMuLMWFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Somerville Parks and Recreation staff on May 27 told the City Council committee they plan to convert Founders' Ring into a year-round, multiuse recreation space by installing removable flooring and programming aimed at teens, adults and youth, including steps to build middle-school girls' hockey opportunities.

Susan Neurkis, Parks and Recreation director, described summer 2024 pilot clinics and a multi-year plan: begin with summer girls' hockey clinics and a fall floor-hockey/clinic program in year one, expand middle-school collaboration and open-skate development in year two, and pursue intramural teams by year three. Neurkis said the department is working with Somerville Youth Hockey Association and other partners to grow interest and reduce barriers such as equipment and ice-time costs. \"We responded to the community interest by organizing girls' hockey clinic' 14 girls ages 9 to 14 participated,\" Neurkis said.

Parks staff and committee members also discussed a related funding request: the mayor's appropriation request (item 250,456) to transfer $160,000 from free cash to the Department of Public Works'repairs-to-buildings account to fabricate and install courts/flooring at Founders' Ring, and an officer's communication (item 250,576) updating the committee on cost and program information. The committee voted to refer both items for recommendation to the next stage.

Community stakeholders including Somerville Youth Hockey representatives and parents addressed the committee, urging that ice-time needs for youth hockey and learn-to-skate programs be preserved or prioritized. Greg Roboto, a board member of Somerville Youth Hockey, said the rink has been \"very discouraging to see it unused for the past couple of years,\" and offered the association's help if the facility can support year-round use.

Parks staff said the proposed flooring is removable, which preserves the future option of returning the facility to ice if circumstances change. Director Neurkis and Parks staff emphasized the department's intent to work closely with existing ice users and FMC (the arena operator) to prioritize Somerville residents and youth when scheduling ice time at Veterans Memorial Arena and to consult users while implementing the Founders' plan.

Committee members asked about temperature control, flooring choice and impacts on current users; staff said the facility has experienced cold winters and hot summers and that the floor installation alone would not address HVAC issues. Parks noted pilot non-ice programming from September to December served about 1,000 people (drop-in, teens, adult programs and stand-alone events), and that two one-day events reached roughly 400 participants.

The committee referred the finance items (250,576 and 250,456) for recommendation with a roll-call vote recorded as two votes in favor. Committee leadership said staff will continue to consult directly with Somerville Youth Hockey, learn-to-skate providers and other users as the project moves forward.

Next steps: the referred finance items will proceed through the Council recommendation process; Parks staff will continue outreach and coordination with ice users, youth organizations and FMC to refine scheduling and the multi-year program plan.","Parks officials proposed removable flooring and a multi-year plan to expand indoor recreation at Founders' Ring, including steps toward girls' middle-school hockey; the committee referred two finance items (including a $160,000 appropriation request) for recommendation.","actionData","errors"]

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Somerville updates on yearlong guaranteed basic income pilot; officials report reduced stress, cash used for rent and essentials

Somerville committee hears plan to convert Founders' Ring to multiuse recreation space; finance items referred for recommendation