A guaranteed basic income bill that aimed to provide direct cash assistance to an estimated 15,307 exiting 12th-grade students across the state who are experiencing homelessness was blocked in committee.
According to SB 333, it would have created the California SOAR Guaranteed Income Fund which would provide $1,000 each month for 4-months from May 1, 2025 to August 1, 2025.
The bill passed the state senate floor in May 2023 in a 34-4 vote. Last month it passed the Assembly Education Committee in a 6-0 vote.
Sen. Cortese’s Statement on SB 333 – Guaranteed Basic Income for Unhoused Youth
SAN JOSE, CA – Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) joined the Economic Security California Action organization in issuing the following statements regarding the California Assembly Appropriations Committee blockage of his Senate Bill 333 (SB 33).
“We can’t keep graduating more than 15,000 students each year into our streets, creeks and parks. As part of our state’s budget, we invested more than $24 billion to combat the lack of affordable housing and increasingly rampant homelessness we see daily out in our streets, and yet, my colleagues on the Assembly Appropriations Committee still failed thousands of young people across the state by holding my SB 333 back,” said Senator Cortese. “SB 333 would have created a critically needed lifeline for youth experiencing homelessness by providing them temporarily with a guaranteed basic income. Instead, my colleagues made a choice to defer our youths’ dreams at a better life for another year. I vow to continue championing guaranteed basic income measures such as SB 333 to prevent our most vulnerable youth from graduating into a life sentence of homelessness and poverty.”
“A guaranteed income is a lifeline, and a pathway to a brighter future. For the more than 15,000 graduating seniors experiencing homelessness each year in California, a few $1,000 checks would come at a pivotal transition, and help them break the cycle of housing insecurity,” said Teri Olle, Director of Economic Security California Action. “This legislation is not just an investment in individual students, but in the future of our state, ensuring young adults have the economic stability necessary to successfully transition to college or the workforce. We will proudly fight alongside advocates and allies next year to introduce, and finally pass, this important legislation.”
SB 333 aims to establish the California Success, Opportunity and Academic Resilience (CalSOAR) program within the state’s Department of Social Services. Specifically, it would provide direct cash assistance to an estimated 15,307 exiting 12th-grade students across the state who are experiencing homelessness. These youth would receive a monthly stipend for four months beginning May 1, 2025 to support their transition out of high school. The bill would better equip these youth with either accessing employment or a postsecondary education.
Senator Dave Cortese represents Senate District 15, which encompasses San Jose and much of Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley. Visit Senator Cortese’s website: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov
Previous Story:
- June 28, 2024 – US Supreme Court Rules Homeless Camping Bans Can be Enforced
- June 3, 2024 – 2024 Point in Time: Contra Costa County Sees Increase in Homelessness
- Feb 8, 2023 – Bill Would Create Guaranteed Income for Homeless High School Seniors
3 comments
The road to hell, goes the saying, is paved with good intentions. I foresee widespread fraud and abuse if this ever becomes a reality – there will be a sudden surge in claimed student homelessness just as there is always a surge in Social Security disability claims every time there’s a recession. If you are homeless living in “streets, creeks and parks,” you shouldn’t be trying to go to college. You should first get your life stabilized with employment, however humble, and a place to live. THEN pursue college.
Over 60 million dollars in a scant 4 months, that will likely go in their arm, or up their nose. You have GOT to be kidding me.
You’re welcome to use your personal money for this Dave. You can even seek private donations too. Hands off my tax dollars! If you can just give away my tax dollars like this it means you took too much and it should be returned to the tax payer.
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