It’s been a long time coming, but finally, the city of Austin is doing something to help its poorest residents. Yesterday, the city council voted to start a new program that will give money to 85 low-income people in our town.
In 2020, some people in the city got mad about how the police were treating poor people and how little the city was doing to help them. So, they started protesting. They also created a petition to get the city to do something about it.
The city council listened to the protesters and decided to start this new program. It’s called a guaranteed income program. This program would give everyone living in the city a certain amount of money every month, whether they’re working or not.
So far, two other cities in Texas, Houston and San Antonio have signaled their support for the universal basic income program. However, the cities don’t yet have such a program.
The City of Austin is working out the new program’s details to provide money to its poorest residents. The plan is to give $1,000 per month to 85 of the city’s most impoverished families. This guaranteed income will help these families pay their bills and put food on the table.
The city council is still discussing how they will fund this program. They consider using money from the city’s general fund or asking private donors to help.
The program is expected to start within the next six months. It will be a significant relief to many people in Austin who struggle every day to get by. Hopefully, it will set an example for other cities that want to do more for their poorest residents.
Overall, the city council’s decision to start the guaranteed income program is a huge step forward for low-income people in Austin. This new program will help ensure that our city’s poorest families have the support and security they need to get by. Hopefully, we’ll see more cities follow suit in the coming months and years!
By Diane Revilla
