In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved $2 million for a new guaranteed income pilot program to support two of the city’s most vulnerable populations: survivors of domestic violence and transitional-aged foster youth.
The program, called Supporting Transitional-Aged Youth and Survivors in Achieving Financial Empowerment — or STAY SAFE — will provide $1,000 monthly payments for two years to 83 eligible participants, with a focus on current or former foster youth ages 16 to 24 and individuals recovering from partner violence.
Councilmembers Curren Price and Hugo Soto-Martinez led the push, drawing on the success of the city’s earlier pilot, BIG:LEAP, which ran from January 2022 to March 2023 and served more than 3,000 low-income households. That program had promising results: participants reported being able to afford basic necessities, avoid eviction, pay for education and even start small businesses…