PATERSON, NJ — A second phase of the “guaranteed income” program, funded by Paterson’s American Rescue Plan pandemic relief grant, is now accepting applications from residents for $400 monthly payments over a year.
The program is part of Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh’s plan to revitalize one of the state’s largest cities that has fallen due to a rise in crime in recent years.
The application period is open until Oct. 30, and the recipients will be selected via an electronic lottery managed by the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania in early November.
Single-person households with an annual income not exceeding $38,910 are eligible to apply. For families of three, the income cap is $110,311, and for families of five, it’s $184,405.
The first phase of this initiative began in 2021. During that period, 110 families received additional financial assistance through debit cards. The pilot program saw more than 5,000 applicants and was initially funded by a private donation.
City officials expect the second phase to benefit 200 households, thereby expanding the scope of the pilot and utilizing public funding to execute it.
