After the financial struggles of COVID-19, small businesses struggled to stay open. When the pandemic was over, many companies received another financial blow with the rising of inflation. As a result, employment opportunities were impacted, and many Americans struggled and continue to struggle to make ends meet.
To balance the higher cost of living with lower wages, many Americans have cut back on their spending, which has contributed to a weaker economy. How can Americans find relief? The government has previously given out stimulus checks to help stimulate the economy and support citizens, a practice that seems to be continuing this year.
Gurateneed income stimulus checks to support California residents
The Family First Sacramento is a comprehensive family program in Sacramento County, California, whose goal is to provide 200 households with opportunities and resources to help stop various community problems.
Some of the problems include:
- Family separation.
- Suicide prevention.
- Intrafamilar violence.
- Children from entering welfare institutions.
- Adolescents are admitted into juvenile correction centers.
- Substance use in children, youth, and families.
But the government support doesn’t stop there. The Board of Supervisors voted to implement a stimulus check pilot program to give financial aid to individuals and households who need it most. This program is very similar to a Guaranteed Income program, which provides a certain amount of financial aid to certain groups of people. Participants of the guaranteed income program are allowed to use their money in any way they desire.
More about the Sacramento program
Of course, with any program, there is a process that individuals, in this case, California residents, must go through before receiving stimulus checks. The program does require certain data, interviews, or surveys to better understand how this initiative will impact the lives of participants.
The program plans to hand out payments in the following way:
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) will give out stimulus check payments is in cash or cash equivalent through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards
- Payments will be given to individuals or households.
- There will be a defined duration.
Through the Family First pilot program, eligible families can receive up to $725 per month for 12 months, which is a total of $8,700. The funds will be provided by the California Department of Social Services Block Grant
How to get your stimulus checks?
Here are the requirements of the program
- Must have children of American Indian, African American, or Alaska Native descent who are between 0 and five years old.
- Have earned below the federal poverty level (200% below).
- You must be a California resident living in the following zip codes and neighborhoods:
| Zip code | Neighborhood |
| 95823 | Valley High |
| 95828 | Florin |
| 95815 | North Sacramento |
| 95838 | Del Paso Heights |
| 95821 & 95825 | Arden Arcade |
Payments are aimed to be sent out as early as July 2024, so if you meet the requirements, make sure to contact the Sacramento County Office.
Other stimulus check options for Californians
If you live in another part of California, luckily, you may be able to get in on this stimulus check action. There is a program that gives California residents a $1,000 stimulus check every month for three years. The program is based in the city of Breathe, Los Angeles, and it’s been helping about 1,000 people. This unique program is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country, and it has a much longer duration than most other similar programs.
This program benefits residents, researchers, and public policy planners. It also gives insight into human behaviors and practices. Typically, when people get a one-time payment, they may spend it on a luxury item or a one-time purchase. However, when citizens know they will continue to receive money, they tend to be more intentional. By receiving continuous financial support, people tend to make more significant changes in their lives because they have the financial support to do so.
To monitor participants’ progress, they are required to complete surveys every six months to measure how the program is affecting them and their overall well-being. This allows us to track the impact, see what’s working, and determine what might need adjusting.
Overall, these types of programs are needed and can provide long-term financial stability for families, individuals, and the economy. Hopefully, other parts of California will follow these models and implement the programs throughout the state.