Stimulus Check Update: $500 Direct Payments Sent to Over 300 Families

A pilot program called the Pathway to Income Equity is sending out $500 monthly direct payments to 305 families in Sonoma County, California.

A pilot program is sending $500 monthly direct payments to 305 families in Sonoma County, California. (Photo: Marca)

Pathway to Income Equity Sends $500 Direct Payments

$500 monthly direct payments from a pilot program are given to 305 families in Sonoma County, California. This program serves as an experiment to observe the effects of guaranteed income on impoverished families.

Angie Dillon-Shore, the executive director of First 5 Sonoma County, an agency dedicated to early childhood development, emphasized the importance of the program in combating familial poverty.

She dismissed concerns that the direct payments may encourage laziness, stating that most of the selected recipients are already working, often holding multiple jobs or working over 40 hours a week to make ends meet.

According to The Gazette, the additional income from the program will allow them to spend more time with their families, seek better employment opportunities, or improve their financial well-being, ultimately benefiting their children.

Supervisor Chris Coursey, chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, highlighted the significance of these direct payments in alleviating the financial burdens faced by families with young children, particularly in terms of housing and childcare costs.

The pilot program is collecting data and insights to shape future initiatives aimed at enhancing the well-being of the community. First 5 Sonoma County has enlisted an external evaluator to conduct qualitative research, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups with participants over a two-year period.

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Who is Eligible for the $500 Direct Payments?

Out of 6,450 applicants, these 305 families were selected based on certain criteria.

To be eligible for the $500 direct payments, applicants needed to have at least one child under the age of six, have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and have a household income that does not exceed 185% above the federal poverty level, according to the Sonoma County Administrator’s Office.

Direct payments are sent on the third Wednesday of each month, with the next payment scheduled for June 21, according to Dillon-Shore in an interview with the Washington Examiner.

A preliminary report will be published in spring 2024, followed by a final report in early 2025, as stated by Dillon-Shore to the Washington Examiner.

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