Evaluation finds guaranteed-income pilot improved short-term housing and food security for former foster youth

Amy Dworsky presented the final evaluation of the Net Growth Movement guaranteed-income pilot, which targeted young people who aged out of extended foster care. The pilot provided $1,000 per month for 24 months to enrolled participants, with optional supportive services delivered by Bay Area Community Services.

Dworsky summarized mixed implementation results: while 67 of 90 eligible young people enrolled, care-coordinator engagement varied and averaged contact with about 14 participants per month. "Some participants were not prepared for the pilot to end," she said, noting that matching funds used to incentivize savings helped several participants build a cushion for after the pilot.

The evaluation reported consistent outcome patterns: participants were less likely to report food insecurity and housing worries while receiving the guaranteed payments, subjective financial well-being rose during enrollment, and many participants used the funds to stabilize housing and seek employment or education. One quoted participant said, "I never had to worry about having my bills paid," reflecting improved day-to-day security while enrolled.

Key takeaways and recommendations

- Enrollment and engagement: 67 of 90 eligible enrolled; monthly case-management engagement averaged roughly 14 participants. Presenters recommended pairing cash with supportive services and considering service-engagement requirements to improve uptake of supports. - Financial outcomes: Quantitative comparisons in the presentation showed lower rates of food insecurity, housing worry and other hardships while participants were receiving payments than before enrollment or after the pilot ended. - Program design: Dworsky and her team recommended continued pairing of direct payments with coordinated supportive services, continued use of matching funds to encourage savings and consideration of at least a two-year runway for similar pilots in high-cost regions.

Supervisors and the evaluator discussed program duration and stipend size: Dworsky said participants generally judged $1,000/month for 24 months as appropriate for Bay Area costs and that a shorter or materially smaller stipend might have been less effective at stabilizing housing.

Follow-up

The presentation closed with supervisors thanking the evaluators and asking for written reports and any comparisons with other regional pilots, including a similarly scoped evaluation being led in San Francisco. The committee did not vote on continuation or expansion; program continuation outside of the pilot was described as "not specified" in the evaluation summary materials.