On Tuesday, Texas' attorney general initiated legal action to halt a guaranteed income program scheduled to commence this month for residents in the Houston area. The program, established by Harris County, aims to provide $500 monthly cash payments to 1,928 county residents for a duration of 18 months. Eligibility criteria include having a household income below 200% of the federal poverty line and residing in specified high-poverty zip codes.
Funded by $20.5 million from the American Rescue Plan, the initiative is part of a broader trend across the country where federal pandemic relief funds have spurred the implementation of guaranteed income programs in various cities and counties. The goal is to combat poverty, reduce inequality, and encourage workforce participation.
