SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — Some Sacramento County families in need could get $725 dollars per month under a new pilot program, the Family First Economic Support Pilot.
Families struggling to pay their rent and keep up with bills said the program would be a huge help, especially since there are no restrictions on how families can spend that money.
Barbara Mitchell said paying bills in 2024 is almost unaffordable. The retired grandmother lives with her daughter and grandson in South Sacramento.
She said the hardest part is trying to figure out which bill to skip in order to buy food.
"Especially when you have, like if you're diabetic and you're supposed to eat your meals every day and you can't do it, take your medicine, because you get so much income. But then again, they charge you so much for your medicine, but you can't afford it," Mitchell said.
Mitchell lives in one of the zip codes where Sacramento County is offering the Family First Economic Support Pilot. It's a first-of-its-kind program that gives qualifying families guaranteed payments of $725 dollars a month for a year.
It's primarily funded through the state block grant funding provided to Sacramento County's Department of Child, Family and Adult Services.
People who want to apply must meet all of the following requirements:
- You must be parents or legal guardians of Black/African American, American Indian, or Alaska Native children between the ages of 0 and 5.
- Families must have an annual household income under 200% of the federal poverty level. For example, your annual household income needs to be less than $40,880 if 2 people live in the household.
- Families must live in one of these zip codes: 95815, 95821, 95823, 95825, 95828 or 95838.
Mitchell said the money would help her family with paying bills, but not everyone is a fan of the idea.
Another person who didn't want to go on camera said he feels programs like these are enabling people and thinks there are other solutions for people to make ends meet.
Mitchell said she doesn't have much of a choice.
"Because things is going up and up and up. But the money situation is not going up," Mitchell said.
Applications are open Sept. 30 through Oct. 13; 200 people will be randomly selected from those who apply and meet eligibility requirements.
An informational meeting on the pilot is being held Tuesday night at 6:30 at the Roberts Family Development Center.
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