Committee backs advisory group's guaranteed-income recommendations; HSA to pursue state pilot funds for foster youth

The Budget & Finance Committee reviewed a report from the city's Guaranteed Income Advisory Group and voted to forward a resolution adopting the group's recommendations and establishing city policy in support of guaranteed income.

Supervisor (transcript: "Cappay") introduced the resolution and framed the work as moving "from pilots to policy." Tajel Shaw, chief assistant treasurer, described the advisory group's process and core recommendations: define guaranteed income and cash assistance clearly; create a centralized guaranteed-income unit to coordinate pilots, research and funding; center community voices in program design; and pursue structural reforms to scale efforts. "These recommendations reflect a shared belief that direct and unconditional cash transfers are an effective anti-poverty tool," Shaw said.

Susie Smith, deputy director for policy, planning and public affairs at the Human Services Agency, explained practical steps around protecting guaranteed-income payments so they do not jeopardize recipients' public benefits. Smith told the committee HSA has worked with the California Department of Social Services to identify legal pathways and to prepare waiver applications that would exempt guaranteed-income payments from counting against benefits such as CalFresh and CalWORKs.

HSA said it will apply for the state's guaranteed-income pilot funding (the state allocated $35 million) and proposed dedicating $2 million from HSA's next fiscal-year budget as the local match to be competitive. Prioritized populations cited in the application will include foster youth exiting care and pregnant mothers. Committee members emphasized the need for a centralized coordinator to avoid duplication across the more-than-a-dozen existing local pilots and for community-centered evaluation.

Advisory group member Jim Pugh, co-director of the Universal Income Project, spoke in support of centering lived experience in design. A remote caller, Francisco DeCosta, criticized the effort and argued the city lacks sufficient affordable housing; supervisors responded and the record reflects broad committee support.

Vice Chair Asha Safai moved to forward the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the committee voted unanimously.