The United Way of Central Indiana has recently launched a Housing Stability Initiative to fund and expand guaranteed income programs throughout Indianapolis.
United Way intends to support the IndyEast Guaranteed Income Initiative — a program of the IndyEast Economic Mobility District — with a $2.5 million grant. Funded by local philanthropists Judy and Michael Harrington, a match from the Lilly Foundation and an additional anonymous donor, the grant will support the IndyEast Guaranteed Income through 2028, according to a press release.
“United Way wants to change that trajectory by building on an innovative solution to stabilizing entire households,” Shannon Jenkins, United Way’s vice president of impact, said in a statement. “With stable income and coaching, families can focus on long-term goals like savings, employment, education and health. When we remove barriers, we help whole families stabilize.”
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Led by John Boner Neighborhood Centers, Southeast Community Services and Edna Martin Christian Center, the IndyEast Guaranteed Income Initiative allows participants to receive regular, unrestricted payments to be used at their discretion to meet the needs of their households, according to a press release.
Based on data from Stanford University’s Guaranteed Income Pilots Dashboard, guaranteed income participants “spend most of their money on meeting their basic needs — and some are then able to save, find better employment and pay off debt.”
Wages have not kept up with rising housing costs in Central Indiana, and as stated in a press release, 1 in 5 Hoosier renters pay 50% or more of their income on rent. Indianapolis also has one of the highest eviction rates in the country and is experiencing a shortage of 50,000 affordable rental units for low-income households, according to data from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
The IndyEast Guaranteed Income Initiative intends to build on the universal basic income program, which was piloted by Eastside Economic Mobility District and funded by Tomberg Family Philanthropies from October 2022-March 2024. Over the 18-month pilot period, 15 families received $500 of unrestricted monthly stipends.
Findings from the previous pilot program are as follows:
- At the beginning of the program, 60% of households were employed full-time; by the end of the program, 93% were employed full-time.
- Average monthly income increased by approximately $306. Multiple participants improved their credit scores, and two participants reported paying off significant debt.
- Pilot participants were able to pursue new training opportunities and credentials. At least five workforce credentials were obtained by participants, including one participant who earned their high school diploma and another who completed a bachelor’s degree.
- Participants experienced improved mental health and financial security, as their focus shifted from emergencies and meeting basic needs — such as housing, food and utilities — to long-term stability through saving, investing and debt payments.
Three local community centers have already launched a similar initiative in October, with 25 eligible participants who will receive $500 per month for 18 months, according to a press release. These participants will also receive “ongoing coaching to support housing retention, financial stability, employment and long-term well-being.”
Additional families are set to be included in the programming in 2026, with the goal of serving 125 households. City Strategies and United Way will also be assessing participant feedback and data in an independent evaluation “to measure the initiative’s impact and outcomes.”
United Way of Central Indiana strives to help distance Hoosiers from poverty by focusing its resources on four essential areas: basic needs, early care and learning, economic mobility, and safe and affordable housing, as stated in a press release. Supporting this new initiative is part of United Way’s ongoing housing and economic mobility efforts, which aim to stabilize families and create paths to secure financial futures.
For more information about United Way of Central Indiana visit https://www.uwci.org.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
