Cash for Reentry

Geographic Scope: New Haven, Connecticut

Overview:
Guaranteed income pilot providing recurring, unconditional, no-strings-attached cash assistance ($500/month for 12 months) to formerly incarcerated individuals. The program supports stability necessary for participants to pursue personal goals related to housing, employment, relationships, and mental/physical health.

Background

• More than 95% of those in prison will be released; 26-32% are reincarcerated within one year
• Only $50 in "gate money" provided upon release
• Challenges: no photo ID, few employment prospects, uncertain/unstable housing
• High U.S. incarceration rates disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and low-income individuals
• Correctional institutions send 900-1,000 individuals back to New Haven yearly
• Only 55% of incarcerated adults are employed in four years after release, despite government incentive programs like Work Opportunity Tax Credit
• Government acknowledges financial stability is critical to successful reentry

Pilot Overview

What is Guaranteed Income?
Recurring, unrestricted, no-strings-attached cash assistance to targeted individuals for a set period of time (differs from universal basic income which is not targeted)

Participant Details:

• Number: 60 participants
• Population: Individuals returning from prison to New Haven City or County address
• Age range: 19-74
• Race/ethnicity: 85% Black, 12.5% Hispanic, 2.5% Multiracial
• Average monthly income: $1,590
• Sentence length: 6 months to 30+ years

Program Aims:

• Demonstrate benefits of guaranteed income for formerly incarcerated individuals
• Improve systems for delivering support to reentering individuals
• Better understand trauma in lived experiences of justice-impacted individuals

Fund Distribution:

• $500 unconditional cash assistance monthly for 12 months
• Distributed on card combining New Haven's Elm City ID + prepaid Mastercard
• Partnership with City of New Haven, Mastercard's Global Cities team, and Usio

Funding:

• 4-CT provides cash assistance funded entirely through philanthropy

Evaluation:
Quarterly interviews, surveys, and spend data analysis measuring impact on:

• Employment status
• Housing security
• Family relationships
• Community engagement
• Mental health
• Recidivism rate

Partnerships

• Project M.O.R.E. Reentry Welcome Center
• City of New Haven