Harris County delayed the start of its guaranteed income pilot program after Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones had “legal questions” she wanted answered.
The program, Uplift Harris, which will provide a $500 monthly no-strings-attached stipend to more than 1,900 families initially was set to open applications on Monday. Harris County Public Health, which is overseeing the pilot, said during court Tuesday that it now plans to launch the application on Friday. The application period will run from Jan. 12 to Feb. 2.
Briones asked to go behind closed doors into an executive session to receive guidance from county lawyers. She declined to say why the questions had not been raised or answered sooner. Commissioners Court approved the program last June.
Court members would not fully divulge what was discussed during the hour-long closed-door meeting but County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the main concern was whether people in the country illegally could apply.
Because the program is funded through $20.5 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, people in the country illegally will not be eligible, Hidalgo said.
“If there had been a way, I certainly would have supported it,” she said.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey pushed for the court to hold the discussion in public saying he did not think an executive session was legally warranted.
“Due to the nature of what we’re talking about, I think the more transparency the better,” said Ramsey, who did not join his colleagues behind closed doors. “I’m not going into executive session about who’s eligible and who’s not eligible. That should be done out here.”
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who has championed the program from the beginning, was not present at court Tuesday but issued a statement:
“I am glad that Commissioners Court has agreed to move this program forward, as every day we delay the implementation of this program is another day a mother struggles to put food on the table, a job seeker lacks the necessary funds for transportation or a senior worries about affording essential medication,” the statement said.
The county is joining nearly 60 cities and counties across the country, including Baltimore, Austin and Denver, that have launched similar programs, according to Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a network of leaders who advocate for such initiatives. Guaranteed income, sometimes referred to as universal basic income, has been discussed for decades as a possible solution to help improve poverty levels. The idea has risen in popularity in recent years, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.
Applicants who live below 200 percent of the federal poverty line will be eligible to receive the stipend. An individual below that threshold would make under $29,160 a year; a family of four would be under $60,000.
Uplift Harris will run for 18 months and will come with virtually no spending restrictions aside from prohibitions on anything that would harm the safety and security of others, involves criminal activity or supports terrorism.
To qualify, applicants must reside within the ZIP codes that are among the highest poverty rates in the county: 77050, 77093, 77051, 77060, 77028, 77033, 77026, 77081, 77547 and 77091. Those participating in Accessing Coordinated Care and Empowering Self Sufficiency Harris County also are eligible.
Applicants will be notified of their selection in mid-February. Potential participants can submit an interest form online through the Uplift Harris website to be notified when the application is posted.
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