ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the launch of the Howard County’s first transformative Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program in partnership with the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC). Through this program, CAC has enrolled 20 families in a program that offers monthly economic assistance, wrap-around services, and programming sessions from community partners. Through this pilot program, CAC provides participating families with $1,000 per month for 12 months to prioritize household needs that will ultimately improve overall economic stability.
GBI pilot programs have been in place for almost a decade across our nation and implemented most recently by our neighboring jurisdictions. These impactful programs have demonstrated long-term positive impacts not only on families’ economic stability but also on their emotional availability as parents. Howard County’s GBI pilot program aims to diminish and uplift families out of poverty, better their lives, and enable them to be more self-sufficient. Through data collection and key outcome measures, this pilot program will inform future County strategies to promote economic mobility and self-sufficiency.
Existing research has highlighted how innovative GBI programs can transform the lives of families served. Studies, including Open Research’s Unconditional Cash Study, have demonstrated that direct, no-strings-attached financial support helps families not only stabilize housing and meet immediate needs, but also make longer-term investments in education, employment, and health. Data indicates that families who participate in GBI programs experience reduced financial volatility and increased capacity to pay for core expenses such as food, rent, and transportation, while planning for the future. Howard County’s GBI pilot program stands at the forefront of this movement, using local community partners and data-informed research to create new pathways for economic mobility.
Tasked with overseeing and implementing the program, CAC identified 292 potential participants earlier this year. In the month of April, this targeted group was surveyed to further determine eligibility and in analyzing its survey results, 90 families were chosen to move forward in the selection process. These families then had to submit proof of residency and income and household demographics weekly to CAC. In June, eligible families were selected, waitlisted via a lottery, and required to submit the remaining required documentation by June 20th to confirm GBI pilot program eligibility.
To be eligible for the program, families:
- Had to be Howard County residents;
- Have at least one child in the household is below the age of 18;
- A current client of CAC’s programming, i.e.;
- A child in the household was enrolled in CAC’s Early Children Education program during the 2024-25 school year;
- Received Energy and/or Housing Assistance from CAC in the past year;
- Energy and/or Housing Assistance may have been denied if household income exceeded program limits;
- Not currently on an income-based housing voucher or housing subsidy; and
- Have a reported household income between 150 and 300 percent of Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Poverty Limits based on household size.
In selecting the 20 participating families for this pilot program, CAC was careful to exclude families where the additional income would impact eligibility for other benefits, such as housing vouchers. The GBI pilot program was funded through a $750,000 nonprofit grant to CAC approved in the County’s Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. Funding for this first phase of the pilot will cost approximately $250,000, and the program outcomes will inform extension and expansion of the pilot program.
The GBI pilot program is currently full and not accepting applications. This is a limited pilot initiative, and while the results will help inform future programming decisions, there is no guarantee of additional rounds at this time.
This pilot recognizes something that we at CAC see every day, that families are working hard but still struggling to make ends meet. By providing unrestricted support, we are not just easing financial burdens, we are giving families the breathing room to plan, to grow, and to pursue stability on their own terms. It’s a powerful investment in dignity and possibility.
The 20 participating families reside in Columbia, Laurel, Elkridge, and Savage, with household sizes ranging from two to five people. All participating families have children with an age range of infants up to 17 years old. While there is no obligation to these families to participate in any activities associated with the pilot program, all participants will have access to the additional CAC and partner supports and monthly programming sessions to help build social capital and increase access to already successful programs in the community.
By providing unrestricted economic assistance to targeted households, CAC’s goal is to demonstrate that higher, unrestricted incomes prevent families from slipping into poverty because of economic changes, such as increased utility and housing costs, changes in employment, unexpected health issues, and more. By the end of the pilot program, the County and CAC anticipate participants will be able to:
- Remain securely housed;
- Increase their household incomes;
- Create a surplus savings and/or investment account to prepare for emergencies;
- Improve budgeting and financial management skills;
- Become connected with higher education and additional job skills with targeted employers;
- Report a sense of community connectedness; and
- Pay all household expenses in a timely manner.
“This pilot is a powerful example of what’s possible when community organizations, local government, and families come together to address real challenges with practical, people-first solutions. By meeting families where they are and providing the flexibility to respond to their unique needs, we’re demonstrating how partnership, trust, and shared responsibility can help strengthen household stability and community well-being,” said Tonya Aikens, Vice Chair of the CAC Board of Directors and President and CEO of the Howard County Library System.
GBI pilot program participants will, however, throughout the initial year be surveyed quarterly on the following topics, as suggested from other GI pilots in the area:
- Quality of life
- Physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing
- Income
- Paid and unpaid work
- Childcare arrangements
- How they spent time as a family
- Access to healthcare
- Any improvements to life resulting from the additional funds
Additionally, at the end of the pilot, participants will complete a final survey indicating how the additional income impacted their lives and the quantitative impact on their households’ financial situation and how the additional funds were used. This data and measurement of outcomes will help inform future County and CAC strategies to promote economic mobility and self-sufficiency in Howard County.
About the Community Action Council of Howard County:
For 60 years, the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) has served as the county’s designated non-profit anti-poverty organization. As part of a nationwide network of Community Action Agencies, CAC helps hard-working individuals and families overcome economic challenges and achieve lasting self-sufficiency.
CAC delivers impact through five core service areas:
- Early Childhood Education (including Head Start and MSDE-funded Pre-K)
- Food Assistance (through the Howard County Food Bank)
- Housing Assistance
- Energy Assistance
- Weatherization Services
To learn more, visit www.cac-hc.org.