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Evanston council expands guaranteed‑income extension to 102 households, narrows eligibility after debate
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Summary
The Evanston City Council on April 27 approved expanding a second round of guaranteed income to 102 households citywide — $500 a month for six months — using remaining ARPA funds, with eligibility at 185% of the federal poverty level and two target groups: families with young children and residents 55 and older.
The Evanston City Council voted April 27 to allocate the remaining ARPA funds for a second round of the city’s guaranteed‑income pilot, approving support for 102 households at $500 a month for six months and expanding eligibility citywide to two groups: households with a child in second grade or younger, and residents aged 55 and older who meet income limits.
Lisonbee Leipsinger, the city’s policy and intergovernmental affairs manager, told the council staff had enrolled 99 families in the program’s first round and that about $300,000 remained to extend the initiative. “We were only able to enroll 99 of the 150 families that this council allocated ARPA dollars for,” she said during her presentation, noting staff estimates and the deadline that ARPA funds must be spent by the end of the year.
Council members debated whether to spread the funds more widely or concentrate larger monthly payments on fewer households. Some members, including Council member McKelvey and Council member Kelly, argued $1,000 a month would have greater impact, while others—including Council member Rogers—favored $500 to reach more households. After amendments and discussion about administrative capacity, the council accepted a friendly amendment to provide $500 a month to 102 households citywide.
The council also discussed program design details: staff said the eligibility threshold is 185% of the federal poverty line, using tax returns, school lists and other verification; the intent is to find two distinct groups (young families and older residents) under that income cutoff. Leipsinger cautioned that expanding eligibility beyond targeted census tracts adds administrative work, but staff said they could reach a larger pool without recreating the program’s core features.
Several council members asked for program metrics. Leipsinger said the program intentionally does not track individual purchases but that aggregate data from the first round showed spending on housing, clothes and food. Council member Harris and others requested a participant snapshot (demographics, income bands) to assess outcomes; staff agreed to prepare such a profile for the council.
The measure passed on a roll call after amendments to clarify the number of recipients, the monthly payment amount, the two eligible groups and the citywide rollout. Council members who supported expansion said the decision allows the city to spend constrained ARPA dollars on direct assistance now; members who opposed higher monthly payments said smaller amounts to more families would reduce the risk of a deep cut when the program ends.
The council instructed staff to return with implementation details, including administrative costs and outreach plans, and to provide a summary of participant demographics for evaluation.
