Los Angeles Launches $1,000 Monthly Guaranteed Income for Youth

Los Angeles is launching a $2 million guaranteed income program called STAY SAFE that will provide $1,000 per month for two years to more than 80 participants. The program targets transitional-age youth, including current and former foster youth ages 16 to 24, and survivors of intimate partner violence.

Funded by City Councilmembers Curren D. Price and Hugo Soto-Martínez, the initiative builds on the city’s earlier $38 million BIG:LEAP pilot, which gave $1,000 monthly payments to over 3,200 residents for one year. City leaders say past results showed improvements in financial stability, food security, and overall well-being, especially among domestic violence survivors.

The new program will be managed by the Los Angeles Community Investment for Families Department and continues the city’s broader push to use direct cash payments as a tool to reduce poverty and housing instability.

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