Stimulus update: Direct $500 payment to be sent to more than 300 families in eight days

Asher Notheis

March 07, 11:09 AM March 07, 11:09 AM

Families that were selected to receive money from California's guaranteed income program will receive their next $500 payment in only eight days.

Sonoma County selected 305 families to receive $500 every month for two years as part of its Pathway to Income Equity program. Officials will study the effect of the additional income concerning reducing poverty and promoting economic mobility for families with young children, according to the Sonoma County Administrator's Office.

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“These payments will help families with young children who are often struggling under the double burden of the high costs of housing and child care — typically the two highest household expenses,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “The information we gain from this pilot program will help shape future efforts to improve the health and welfare of our community.”

Angie Dillon-Shore, the director of the nonprofit group First 5 Sonoma County, told the Washington Examiner these payments will go out to recipients on the third Wednesday of every month and that the final payment will be issued in December 2024.

Applications for the program were only open to applicants who met specific criteria, including being a resident of Sonoma County. Other criteria included being pregnant and/or the parent of a child no older than 5, being affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and making an income of less than 185% of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level is $42,606 for a family of three.

A total of 6,450 online applications were submitted for review, with 2,383 meeting the eligibility requirements. Applications for the program opened on Sept. 1 and closed on Oct. 31 of last year.