Applications for city’s Guaranteed Basic Income program close at midnight

Taylor Liberti and Evan Bourtis News10NBC

[anvplayer video=”5181495″ station=”998131″]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Applications for the City of Rochester’s Guaranteed Basic Income program close at the end of the day on June 29.

The city will give a monthly payment of $500 to around 350 needy families. You have until midnight to apply and you can apply here.

The payments are unconditional — meaning no strings attached, no work requirements, and no restrictions on how the money can be spent. The program is financed by $2 million from the city’s American Rescue Plan funds.

Forty-five minutes after that online application opened on June 22, more than 2,000 people signed up. City resident Sheila Carpenter was one of the people who signed up on the first day.

“I am basically a single mom of six kids. So that extra income would be a huge help, especially with school costs coming up in the fall,” she said.

This is the city’s first Guaranteed Basic Income initiative, which is a tool aiming to improve racial and gender equity. It’s a supplement, rather than a replacement, of the existing social safety net. Part of the program involves researching the impacts of getting guaranteed income and using that knowledge to influence policies addressing poverty.

“This program is founded in the belief that individuals in poverty are best in a position to make informed financial decisions that address their household needs efficiently. That’s why the cash transfers are unconditional,” said Mayor Malik Evans.

Applicants to the program must meet all of these requirements:

  • Must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Must be a resident of the City of Rochester for at least one year.
  • Household income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
  • Must reside in a qualified census tract in the City of Rochester.
  • Only one individual per household can participate in the program.

City residents who don’t have access to a computer can get help with applying at city libraries, neighborhood service centers, or community partners to the program. Here’s a list of locations:

City of Rochester libraries:

  • Arnett Branch — 310 Arnett Blvd., Rochester N.Y. 14619, (585) 428-8214
  • Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County — 115 South Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14604, (585) 428-7300, TDD: (585) 428-8023 
  • Charlotte Branch — 3557 Lake Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14612, (585) 428-8216
  • Frederick Douglass Community Library — 971 South Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14620, (585) 428-8206
  • Lyell Branch — 956 Lyell Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14606, (585) 428-8218
  • Maplewood Community Library — 1111 Dewey Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14613, (585) 428-8220
  • Monroe Branch — 809 Monroe Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14607, (585) 428-8202
  • Phillis Wheatley Community Library — 33 Dr. Samuel McCree Way, Rochester N.Y. 14608, (585) 428-8212
  • Sully Branch — 530 Webster Ave., Rochester N.Y. 14609, (585) 428-8208
  • Winton Branch — 611 N. Winton Road, Rochester N.Y. 14609, (585) 428-8204

Neighborhood Service Centers:

  • Northwest Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center — 400 Dewey Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14613, (585) 428-7620
  • Northeast Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center — 500 Norton St., Rochester, N.Y. 14621, (585) 428-7660
  • Southwest Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center — 923 Genesee St., Rochester, N.Y. 14611, (585) 428-7630
  • Southeast Quadrant Neighborhood Service Center — 320 N Goodman St., Suite 209, Rochester, N.Y. 14607, (585) 428-7640

Community partners

19th Ward Community Association
Address: 310 Arnett Blvd., Rochester NY, 14619
Phone #: (585) 328-6571
Website: www.19wca.org
Hours of operation: Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Coalition of Northeast Associations, Inc. (CONEA)
Address: 471 Hudson Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14605
Phone #: (585) 325-1311
Website: https://conea2034.org/
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Children’s Institute, Inc.
Address: 274 N. Goodman St., Suite D103, Rochester, N.Y. 14607
Phone #: (585) 295-1000
Website: www.childrensinstitute.net
Hours of operation: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Common Ground Health
Address: 1150 University Ave., Bldg. #5, Rochester, N.Y. 14607
Phone #: (585) 224-3101
Website: https://www.commongroundhealth.org/
Hours of operation: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Connected Communities
Address: 1337 East Main St., Rochester, N.Y. 14609
Phone #: (585) 488-4887
Website: www.connectedcommunitiesroc.org
Hours of operation: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Deaf Refugee Advocacy, Inc.
Address: 260 East Main St., Rochester, N.Y. 14604
Phone #: (585) 286-3440
Website: www.deafrefugeeadvocacy.org
Hours of operation:

  • Thursday, June 23, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Friday, June, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Monday, June 26 – Thursday, June 29, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

EE Pathways
Address: 10 Cady St., Rochester, N.Y. 14608
Phone #: (585) 445-8222
Website: www.eepathways.us
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Father Tracy Advocacy Center
Address: 821 North Clinton Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14605
Phone #: (585) 563-7008
Website: https://www.fathertracycenter.org/
Hours of operation:

  • Thursday, June 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Friday, June 23, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 24, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Sunday, June 25, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Monday, June 26, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 27, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 28, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Heels of Greatness, Inc.
Phone # (585) 488-4399
Website: www.HeelsofGreatness.com
Hours of operation:

  • For a virtual appointment, call 585-488-4499, or schedule one online.
  • Thursday, June 22, 3:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Friday, June 23, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
  • Monday, June 26, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 27, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 28, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

IBERO Community Resource Center
Address: 216 Clifford Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14621
Phone #: (585) 454-1430
Website: https://www.ibero.org/crc/
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Urban League of Rochester, Inc.
Address: 265 N. Clinton Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14605
Phone #: (585) 325-6530
Website: www.ulr.org
Hours of Operation: By appointment only, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.