By Mary Carr Lee, Mayors Innovation Project

For city leaders, the conversation around guaranteed income has shifted. What was once viewed as an experimental concept is now becoming a practical municipal tool. Cities are demonstrating that modest, predictable cash assistance—paired with thoughtful program design and community partnerships—can improve outcomes for families and create greater economic resilience.

The City of Moline, Illinois, offers one such example. Through its Level Up program, Moline has developed a model that combines guaranteed income principles with wraparound community services. Rather than relying solely on emergency assistance, Moline’s leaders aim to help residents address immediate financial challenges while equipping them with the tools to build greater long-term stability.

The Power of Predictable Cash

Cameron Burns, Deputy Director of the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) coalition, notes that recurring, unconditional cash payments produce measurable results. “You can see the impact within six months,” says Burns. “People stabilize. They breathe easier. They plan.”

Burns is quick to distinguish guaranteed income from both universal basic income (UBI) and one-time stimulus checks. Guaranteed income provides predictable monthly cash that helps households navigate the financial volatility that defines poverty. A cut in work hours, a sudden medical bill, or a broken-down car can quickly destabilize a family’s budget; modest monthly support gives residents the flexibility to solve those problems before they spiral into larger crises.

Moline’s Two-Tiered Approach

Moline has adapted these principles to fit its own community. The Level Up program is structured around two distinct forms of assistance. Tier A provides participants with $400 each month for 12-18 months. A second option, Tier B, offers up to $2,000 in one-time emergency assistance for qualifying situations. “By focusing these funds on true emergencies rather than routine expenses, the city ensures public dollars are directed where they can have the greatest impact while maintaining accountability for taxpayers,” says Moline’s Community Development Manager K.J. Whitley. “The agreement states that only one application per person may be submitted over the life of the program reinforcing the program’s goal of helping residents regain stability rather than creating ongoing dependence.”

What also distinguishes Moline is how the program is funded. Rather than drawing on traditional property tax revenue, the city uses local cannabis tax revenue, allocating approximately $315,000 annually toward economic mobility initiatives. Cities without this resource are using a mix of philanthropic dollars, federal relief funds, state appropriations, and local municipal budgets to run guaranteed income (GI) pilots. Tacoma, Washington leveraged a mix of state and county dollars along with charitable dollars. Richmond, Virginia leveraged flexible funding for the Office of Community Wealth Building, which is part of their city budget. San Diego similarly used county funding for foster youth for its guaranteed income pilot for this target population.

Moline’s Level Up also succeeds because it does not operate in isolation. The program is integrated into a broader network of community support that includes partnerships with organizations such as the Salvation Army, emergency rental and utility assistance, housing rehabilitation initiatives, homeownership programs, and neighborhood revitalization efforts. “Together, these services create multiple pathways for residents to move toward greater financial security,” says Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati.

For mayors evaluating new approaches to poverty reduction and financial stability, Mayors for Guaranteed Income believes there are many paths to funding guaranteed income programs built around local priorities and fiscal realities. “We believe that the political will is being built by successful pilots with real results,” says Cassady Fendlay of MGI. “Whether it’s the affordability crisis, AI job loss, or climate disasters, guaranteed income creates opportunities for people to thrive and helps strengthen the long-term resilience of the entire community.”