How does the selection process work?
The City of Rochester is working with partners on the GBI program. One partner, Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), will take the names of all the applicants, delete any duplicate applications, and then randomly select 175 participants. Applicants will be chosen at random so everyone has a fair chance at participating.
A total of 351 individuals will be selected to participate. So the more people who apply, the lower the chance of being selected to participate.
After the selection process, the program administrator, Black Community Focus Fund (BCFF), will confirm the eligibility of everyone selected and will help enroll those individuals in the program. Funds will begin being provided to those qualified individuals the month after the enrollment period. Qualified individuals will receive funds for 12 months from the date of their first payment.
Some of those individuals who were not selected to receive a GBI may still have the opportunity to earn gift cards by taking surveys so researchers can learn more about Rochester and our residents’ needs.
If I meet all the qualifications, do I automatically get in?
No. All qualified applicants have the same chances of being selected through a random selection process.
Who chooses the people who get a GBI?
The City’s research partner, Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), will randomly select participants to ensure everyone has a fair chance at participating.
When will people be selected?
While the application will only be open for one week, in June 2023, the selection process will happen twice – once in July 2023 and once again in September 2023 – so if you are not selected in July, you may still be selected in September.
How will I know whether or not I was selected to receive a GBI?
The City of Rochester will reach out via email, letter, and by phone to alert those who have been selected to participate by the end of July (for the first round) and by the end of September (for the second round).
I haven’t heard anything yet, does that mean I haven’t been selected?
The City will send an email to everyone who was not selected. But remember, even if you were not chosen in the first selection process, you may still be chosen in the second.
If I am not selected but still need help, what resources are available to me?
The City of Rochester works with other government entities (like Monroe County and the State of New York) as well as local non-profits to provide and connect Rochester residents to important services. For more information on other programs and services, call 211.
All applicants to the GBI program will have the opportunity to participate in free, one-on-one professional financial counseling from Rochester’s Office of Financial Empowerment.
How will the research study work?
The City’s partner, Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), will conduct a randomized control study to measure the program’s outcomes. Participants are not required to participate in the research study in order to receive the monthly payments. GBI participants and some control group members will be asked to fill out surveys, and will receive a gift card for each survey completed (not including the application).
What do you do with my information?
In order to determine if the Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program truly helps improve participants’ lives, researchers at Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) will link to data from other organizations, including credit and housing history. All of your information will be kept confidential and will only be used for evaluation purposes.
Guaranteed income pilot programs are taking place across the country, and Rochester’s program will add to other communities’ information to help determine the impacts of a guaranteed income, as well as influence future policy decisions around poverty reduction programs.