Application now closed
Applications accepted May 1-15 and November 1-15.
“YSEQUITY has been a lifeline for our family. I don’t think words can truly express how much this program has meant to us. That extra $300 each month might seem small to some — but for us, it means a week’s worth of groceries, gas to get to work, or the ability to keep the lights on without fear. ”
– YSEQUITY participant
Overview
YSEQUITY, an initiative supported by the Yellow Springs Community Foundation, provides residents of Yellow Springs and Miami Township with $300 of unrestricted cash each per month for two years ($7,200 in total). YSEQUITY is the first documented guaranteed income program in a village in the United States.
Guaranteed income, also known as basic income, is a social and economic justice approach which provides assistance to families in need with minimal bureaucracy, filling gaps left by existing social safety net programs. GI’s approach is founded on trusting that participants know how to best meet their own needs. Hence, assistance flows in the most efficient way possible: giving people cash.
Once applicants meet the eligibility requirements (1. Residence in Yellow Springs or Miami Township, 2. Age of 18 or older and 3. Annual earnings below a threshold set by federal guidelines), they will enter a random lottery weighted by equity factors. The lottery selection process will be overseen by independent researchers from the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania. Once selected, participants attend a single onboarding session to set up their payment system. After that, all participation in research and storytelling will be purely voluntary.
YSEQUITY is part of a national network of unconditional cash programs for families most in need. Yellow Springs is a member of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income coalition, as well as the Guaranteed Income Community of Practice, in collaboration with the Stanford University Basic Income Lab. YSEQUITY has worked in partnership with UPenn Center for Guaranteed Income Reasearch to study our program, with a full research report due in summer 2026.
Guaranteed Income Application
- Residence in Yellow Springs or Miami Township
- Age of 18 or older
- Annual household earnings below the threshold set by federal guidelines as stated in the table below:
Follow this link to review the application or start the process. If you have questions or need help completing the application, please schedule an appointment by submitting the Contact Us form below, or by calling 937-767-2655.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Guaranteed Income
What is guaranteed income?
Guaranteed income is a type of cash transfer program that provides continuous unconditional cash transfers to individuals or households. This differs from typical social safety net policies by providing a steady, predictable stream of cash to recipients to spend however they see fit without limitations.
Guaranteed income policies and their variants, including basic income, citizen dividends, partial basic income, and universal basic income, have minimal or no eligibility requirements. A guaranteed income may or may not meet basic needs.
Won’t people simply stop working once they receive guaranteed income?
No evidence suggests that people stop working once they receive payments; research goes back to the 1970s with GI pilots around the world. GI addresses basic needs that working households may experience problems covering, like healthcare and housing, but also supports participants in leading more balanced lives by promoting mental and emotional health.
Who has supported guaranteed income?
Support for guaranteed income goes back to the founding of the United States and the writing of Thomas Payne. Since then as diverse a group as Milton Friedman, Martin Luther King Jr., Andrew Yang, Jack Dorsey, Kamala Harris, and the Pope have supported GI.
FAQ about applying to YSEQUITY
Who can participate and how will recipient households be selected?
Residents of the Village of Yellow Springs and Miami Township who are above the age of 18 and earn less than a threshold set by federal guidelines are eligible to be selected. Selection will be via a random lottery, weighted by equity factors, and independently conducted by our partner at the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania. If you previously completed an application and were not selected, you must re-apply for the next cohort to be considered.
Can multiple individuals from the same household apply?
Yes, more than one person from a household can apply, but only one person per household can be selected to enroll in the program.
I’m unhoused but spend most of my time in Yellow Springs. Can I apply?
Unfortunately, at this time proof of address is required to participate in the lottery. However, there are specific resources to support those who are unhoused in Yellow Springs. For more information, contact info@ysequity.org.
FAQ about YSEQUITY
How much money will participants receive?
Participants will be given $300 each month for 2 years (24 monthly payments of $300 or $7,200 in total).
What are “the strings attached” to receiving payments?
There are no strings attached or obligations required of participants to receive payments. Participants are required to show proof of ID and residence and attend an initial onboarding meeting with YSEQUITY staff in order to receive their payments. All subsequent research and story-telling opportunities are voluntary.
Will participants lose other public benefits that they might currently be receiving?
The answer depends on each person’s unique situation. In Ohio, cash gifts count as income under some social service benefits rules, which means enrolling in YSEQUITY could affect certain benefits. For example, participants receiving SSI may see a reduction in those benefits, and those with SNAP or Public Housing assistance may find that guaranteed income affects their food stamps or rent.
Before committing, every prospective recipient will be offered free benefits counseling to help determine whether participation makes sense for their specific circumstances.”
Will participants’ identities be publicly disclosed?
Who will see that someone has applied to the YSEQUITY lottery?
No one besides the external research team. A small number of YSCF staff (1-3 individuals) will know the final participants who are selected in order to implement the program.
What else will be offered to participants?
Participants will have access to program staff with any questions or issues they may encounter. Participants who wish to participate in research or story-telling opportunities will be supported by YSEQUITY staff throughout the process. In addition, participants will be offered a range of learning opportunities, including financial empowerment education. Participation will be on a voluntary basis.
FAQ about supporting YSEQUITY
How is YSEQUITY funded?
YSEQUITY is made possible by private donors and the YSCF. The initial start up costs were supported by a Greene County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.
Can I donate to the YSEQUITY fund?
Absolutely! Donate to the Yellow Springs Community Foundation to support YSEQUITY and ensure it continues to support households most in need in our community. A donation of $325 covers payment to one participant for one month; $3,900 covers 12 months; and $7,800 covers the full 24 month cycle. A donation of $100,000 to the YSEQUITY endowment covers payments for one participant, in perpetuity.
How can I provide input or ask a question?
All feedback and questions can be sent by filling out the form below.
Resources
Guaranteed income is a growing and vibrant field of research, practice, and constant innovation. To learn more about this world of work, here are some of the leading institutes studying and practicing guaranteed income:
The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED)
Economic Security Project
Guaranteed Income Community of Practice
UPenn Center for Guaranteed Income Research
Stanford Basic Income Lab
Donate
YSEQUITY actively works to promote and protect the diversity, equity and inclusion that is critical to the identity of Yellow Springs. This is a community-developed, community-led, and community-driven initiative. This means we need your support to ensure YSEQUITY meets our community’s needs, now and in the future.
Any contribution is welcome, but please consider making a promise to commit support to YSEQUITY over time. This will allow us to build the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Fund to ensure YSEQUITY runs in perpetuity, resulting in one of the few guaranteed income initiatives in the country supported by a community foundation endowment. This means:
- Monthly Support: A donation of $325 covers payment to one participant for one month
- Annual Support: A donation of $3,900 covers payments to one participant for one year
- Two Year Support: A donation of $7,800 covers payments to one participant for two years (one full cycle of participation)
- In Perpetuity Support: A donation of $100,000 covers payments in perpetuity to one of the 30 participants at any given time
Make your promise to support YSEQUITY as an organization, family or community group. Together, we can! Join us!
Contact Us
201 S Walnut St.
P.O. Box 55
Yellow Springs, OH 45387
937-767-2655