Sacramento County has introduced a new initiative to provide financial assistance to families in need. Under the Family First Economic Support Pilot, selected families could receive $725 per month for one year, with no restrictions on how the money is spent.
For many, like Barbara Mitchell, a retired grandmother living in South Sacramento with her daughter and grandson, this program offers hope in a time of rising living costs. Mitchell shared that affording bills and buying food has become increasingly difficult. “Especially when you have, like if you’re diabetic and you’re supposed to eat your meals every day and you can’t do it,” she explained. “They charge you so much for your medicine, but you can’t afford it.”
The Family First Economic Support Pilot is the first program of its kind in Sacramento County, aimed at providing guaranteed income to qualifying families. It is primarily funded through the state block grant allocated to Sacramento County’s Department of Child, Family and Adult Services.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be parents or legal guardians of Black/African American, American Indian, or Alaska Native children aged 0 to 5.
- Have an annual household income below 200% of the federal poverty level, which equates to less than $40,880 for a two-person household.
- Reside in one of these zip codes: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828, or 95838.
Read More about Eligibility here.
Mitchell believes the monthly payments would help her family, but some critics feel that such programs could be enabling dependency. A local resident, who preferred not to be named, expressed concerns, suggesting that alternative solutions should be explored to help families make ends meet.
Application Process
Applications for the pilot program open from Sept. 30 through Oct. 13. A total of 200 families will be randomly selected from those who meet the eligibility criteria.
To learn more about the Family First Economic Support Pilot, Sacramento County is hosting an informational meeting at the Roberts Family Development Center on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.
