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Single parents in Columbia County, New York, are being reminded of an important deadline for a guaranteed income program. The Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF), in partnership with the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood (GHPN), is offering a two-year pilot program providing $500 monthly payments to single-caregiver households with children aged six and under. Interested families must apply online by July 1.
The program aims to support 42 households, selecting two families from each of Columbia County's 21 towns through a lottery system. To qualify, applicants must reside in Columbia County, have a household income below 80% of the area median income, and be a single caregiver with at least one child under six.
According to BTCF, this initiative seeks to provide financial stability and enhance opportunities for families, particularly single mothers. The program is modeled after successful guaranteed income pilots, which have shown positive outcomes such as improved early childhood development and increased food security.
Applications are available in English, Spanish, and Bangla, and can be submitted through the GHPN website. The program is expected to bring stability and relief to families across the county, as noted by Joan Hunt, Executive Director of GHPN.