Evaluation of San Mateo County’s Guaranteed Income Program

Opportunity

The evaluation of San Mateo County’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program is focused on understanding the effectiveness of guaranteed income payments and other supportive services for current and former foster youth aged 18-22.

Approach

The study will use a participatory and mixed methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Youth participating in the program will complete baseline and follow-up surveys, and HSRI team members will conduct in-depth, semi-structured interviews with both program participants and administrators. The overarching goals are to 1) understand the facilitators and barriers to effectively implementing the program and 2) understand the impact of the program on participant outcomes.

Impact

The study will assess 1) how guaranteed income payments impact the self-sufficiency of program participants, including housing stability, financial security, food security, and transportation security; 2) how guaranteed income payments impact program participant well-being, such as mental health, physical health, and social connectedness; 3) how guaranteed income payments impact the education and/or employment status of program participants, among other factors, with a focus on advancing racial equity among youth and young adults living in San Mateo County, California.