Following a unanimous vote, San Mateo County Supervisors agreed to provide current and former foster youth ages 18-22 with $1,000 a month after approving the first guaranteed income program for this vulnerable group.
Thus, around 70 eligible youth will receive a direct deposit for up to 18 months.
"Our goal is to break the cycle of poverty," said supervisor David J. Canepa, who sponsored the proposal with supervisor Noelia Corzo.
“Foster youth face so many challenges that most of us cannot imagine,” Canepa explained. "We as a community want to help these young adults finish high school and go on to college or trade programs without the overwhelming burden of making ends meet in a county with such a high cost of living."
Corzo pointed out that foster youth “remain very vulnerable” to housing instability and homelessness as they age out of the system.
"Concrete financial support allows some relief from financial pressures that might otherwise drive them out of San Mateo County and away from their support systems and friends," Corzo said.
Funds for this program have no spending restrictions. Recipients can use the monthly stipend as they see fit, for education, transportation, housing, food, and other needs.
With a secure monthly income floor, it is anticipated that participants will be able to take better advantage of the services provided to transition-age foster youth. These include access to educational and financial counselors and a range of support staff who will provide links to health and mental health services, employment services and enrichment activities.
The Board of Supervisors said the first $1,000 direct deposits could begin around the New Year.
Canepa noted that a disproportionate number of youth in foster care, as well as those who have been in foster care, are people of color, so the program will accelerate social justice.
Supervisors voted to allocate $732,000 in local Measure K funds for the pilot project for a total of $2.032 million. The balance will come from a pool of funds set aside for youth-focused services administered by the County's own Human Services Agency and $100,000 from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
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