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Alameda County completes guaranteed-income pilot for former foster youth; independent evaluation underway
Summary
County staff reported the conclusion of a guaranteed-income pilot that enrolled 67 former foster youth (payments Feb. 2023–Dec. 2024), provided $1,000 monthly stipends, included savings-match incentives, and is being evaluated by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; 52 participants consented to the evaluation.
Alameda County staff reported on Jan. 27 that a guaranteed-income pilot for former foster youth, contracted to Bay Area Community Services (BACS), finished disbursing stipends in December 2024 and that an independent evaluation is in progress.
Program overview and participation: The pilot targeted former non-minor dependents who exited foster care in 2022 (or would have in 2022). The potential cohort size was 85 and 67 participants enrolled; 60 received retroactive pay for January 2023 and final stipends were issued in December 2024. Monthly stipends during the pilot were $1,000.
Supplementary funding and program elements: BACS secured philanthropic supplements (about $100,000 from the Hellman Foundation, $100,000 from the Walter and Elise Haas Foundation, $40,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation and $5,000 from Citibank). The program included a savings-match option of up to $5,000, and 54 of 67 participants earned some match with an average matched amount of $1,748.92; 10 participants earned the full match amount.
Participation and evaluation: Staff said participation in voluntary support groups and check-ins was lower than expected, and the program required mandatory check-ins after nine months to ensure funds reached participants. Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago is conducting the evaluation through two survey rounds and interviews; 52 participants consented to the evaluation and 25 completed the first survey in January 2024. Staff said the second round of surveys and interviews would be completed in spring, with results expected by year-end.
County reflections and next steps: Staff acknowledged design lessons—former foster youth tended to decline optional support groups and required more structured engagement—and that financial-literacy and engagement components might be adjusted in future designs. Supervisors said they want to see the independent evaluation and may revisit the program’s cost-effectiveness and integration with existing supports once Chapin Hall’s findings are available.
Ending: County staff said they will return to the committee with the completed evaluation and that program managers are tracking outcomes and participant feedback before considering expansion or integration into other county services.
