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Economy

New York City Study Will Give Cash Payments to Homeless Young Adults

The project joins a growing list of local experiments in no-strings-attached payments to residents. 

Homeless shelters have expanded their services for young adults in New York City, but researchers say the existing systems aren’t doing enough to address permanent housing needs. 

Homeless shelters have expanded their services for young adults in New York City, but researchers say the existing systems aren’t doing enough to address permanent housing needs. 

Photographer: Viviane Moos/Corbis Historical
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New York will become the latest U.S. city to start a pilot giving out monthly cash payments to residents, joining a growing number of others this year that are trying out guaranteed income experiments. But the city’s program is particularly small and focused, giving monthly payments of $1,250 to up to just 40 unhoused people between 18 and 24.

The “Trust Youth Initiative” is targeted at a population with distinct policy needs, and designed with their input, in an attempt to test whether cash improves their housing outcomes.