Evanston City Council approved expanding its guaranteed income program Monday night in a 5-4 vote, with Mayor Daniel Biss casting the tie-breaking vote.
Evanston’s guaranteed income program provides low-income families with children under five years old in the Fifth Ward’s 8102 census tract with $500 monthly in the form of a prepaid card. However, the program didn’t get as many applicants as initially expected, with only 60 households participating out of the 150 capacity.
In hopes of reaching more residents, the council was asked how it would like to expand the program to fill the 90 remaining spots. The council debated increasing the child’s age limit from five years old to second grade, as well as opening the program up to the rest of the city.
“I have concerns that there is a need for this guaranteed income outside of one area, and if we’re going to make adjustments, I’d like for it to be open,” Councilmember Krissie Harris said. “Evanston needs help. We all need help, not just one concentrated place.”
Councilmember Clare Kelly echoed Harris’ sentiment.
“If you’re poor and you live in the First Ward or you’re poor and you live in any ward, you need the money the same,” Kelly said.
However, the vote ultimately decided to increase the child’s age restriction and keep the program eligible only for the specific census tract.
“I think that sticking to where we started off, which is focusing on census tracts with the highest rates of poverty, is a good place to stick,” Reid said.
Policy Coordinator Alison Leipziger said opening the program to the entire city might be an outreach disaster, citing the amount of door-knocking it would take to reach this demographic that may not afford typical outreach points like daycare centers or early childhood education programs.
“We went door to door in 8102 and that took a while, like two weeks, because there were two of us and we went door-to-door,” Leipziger said.
She explained reaching this expanded group will be easier as older children’s information will be attainable from their school district.
When Councilmember Devon Reid asked why the program isn’t reaching the 150 household threshold, Biss said the program was designed to fit the exact number of people eligible, no more no less, and even with door-knocking efforts, not everyone is likely aware of the program.
The program has $900,000 in funding this year, however, the amount isn’t guaranteed moving forward. Northwestern University pledged money going toward the program as part of its community benefits agreement as part of the Ryan Field rebuild, but city staff told the council the amount of money Northwestern will contribute to the fund is to be determined.
For more information about the guaranteed income program, check out the city’s website.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
