FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Theresa A. Bush
Title: Director of Communications City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office
Email: busht@stltreasurer.org
Phone: (314) 366-3088
City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office Shares Results and Data on the Completion of the City’s Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) Pilot Program
- LOUIS, MO — December 8, 2025 – Treasurer Adam Layne announced the completion of the City of St. Louis’ 18-month Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program, administered by the Treasurer’s Office, and shared the publicizing of key findings and data demonstrating its positive impact on participating families. The pilot was birthed by the office of former Mayor, Tishuara O. Jones, and funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars with additional philanthropic support.
Launched to help working families stabilize their finances, the GBI pilot provided $500 in direct cash payments each month for 18 months to eligible St. Louis residents. The program received more than 5,500 applications, and 540 families were approved and enrolled. Data from Washington University researchers demonstrated the program helped families improve financial security, reduce debt, and better meet basic needs. Researchers also found improvements in participants’ credit scores and other indicators of economic community stability.
The program’s selection process was designed to ensure an equitable distribution across all wards in the City of St. Louis. To be eligible, participants had to be city residents, have a household income at or below 170% of the federal poverty level, have a child or dependent enrolled in in a free public school, and could self-attest to experiencing a negative financial impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When we invest directly in families, we strengthen our entire city. I am grateful for the visionary leadership that both recognized the need and trusted our residents to make healthy financial decisions for themselves and their families. St. Louis families deserve hope and relief from economic uncertainty, and this program delivered just that.” – Adam Layne, St. Louis City Treasurer
ABOUT THE TREASURER’S OFFICE: The St. Louis Treasurer’s Office is committed to managing the city’s finances responsibly while fostering opportunities that uplift the community. Through strategic initiatives and dedicated service, the office continues to drive positive change and enhance the quality of life for St. Louis residents.
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