<
https://www.thecity.nyc/2026/01/20/cash-for-care-covenant-house-city-council-homeless-youth-income-experiment/>
"What can a $1,200 monthly allowance do for young adults experiencing
homelessness?
In The Bronx, a 22-year-old said she is finally able to save up for a rent
security deposit for the first time since entering the shelter system a year
and a half ago.
In Harlem, a 19-year-old Lehman College student said her dream of pursuing a
cosmetology license finally feels within reach.
New York City is home to more than 6,800 homeless youths who are not in the
physical custody of a parent or guardian, and who either live on the streets or
are sheltered in temporary settings. Since December, 60 of them — aged 18
through 24 — have been receiving monthly cash payments of $1,200 after they
were selected at random to participate in a program called “Cash with Care,”
run in partnership with Covenant House New York, a non-profit service and
shelter provider for homeless and runaway youths.
The $1.5 million initiative, funded by the City Council under the leadership of
former speaker Adrienne Adams, also provides recipients with a one-time lump
sum of $5,000 — accessible at any time during the program — in addition to the
monthly payments. The program includes services such as help with financial
planning, housing searches and career development, and will run through this
June.
The program was introduced in collaboration with policy research center Chapin
Hall to test whether a guaranteed income can help youths transition out of
homelessness. The idea, which has gained some nationwide traction in recent
years, is to simply give people cash and let them decide what to do with it."
Via Esther Schindler.
Jodi wrote: "Let me guess. It’s going well. It always does. They test. It
succeeds. They stop. Rinse and repeat."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
