One way to help the more than 37 million Americans living below the poverty line is simple: give them cash. That’s the thinking behind “guaranteed income” experiments in cities across the country.

One of the most well-known recent experiments launched in 2019 in Stockton, California. Since then, at least 36 programs have issued their first payments.

Here & Now‘s Deepa Fernandes learns more with Kathrine Cagat, a research and program manager for “Mayors for a Guaranteed Income.” She also speaks with Jesús Gerena, the CEO of “UpTogether,” who is helping run a pilot in Oakland, as well as a recipient there named Saphiah Awnallah.

Jesús Gerena is the CEO of UpTogether. (Courtesy of UpTogether)

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

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