Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Pomona Household Universal Grant (HUG) Program

The City of Pomona is launching the Pomona Household Universal Grant (HUG) program in the Summer of 2024. Pomona HUG is a guaranteed income (GI) pilot project that will provide 250 parents/caregivers with children under 5 years old $500 a month for 18 months. Pomona HUG provides relief for the most economically vulnerable households. The study will investigate the impacts of GI on financial security, material hardship, health and well-being, food security, social support, parenting, and childhood development. The intervention group will be compared to a control group of 350 parents/caregivers receiving only a nominal ($20) amount per month during the 18 month period.

Inclusion Criteria: Must live in the City of Pomona; Must be 18 years old upon application submission; Must be the parent or legal guardian of a child aged prenatal to under 4 years old at the time of application; Must meet at least one of the following qualifiers (#1-4): Experienced negative impact due to the Covid-19 pandemic including: * The participant or anyone in the participant's household experienced unemployment during the pandemic. * The participant or anyone in the participant's household experienced increased food or housing insecurity during or as a result of the pandemic. Home address is located within a qualified census tract (QCT). Participant currently receiving any of the below benefits: * Federal Pell Grants * Free-and Reduced-Priced Lunch (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast (SBP) programs * Head Start and/or Early Head Start * Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) * Section 8 Vouchers : Public Housing \& Housing Choice Vouchers * Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Social Security * CalFresh or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) * Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) * Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) * Medicaid or MediCal * Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) * Childcare Subsidies through Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Program * Household income is at or below 65% AMI (Area Median Income) In order to be approved for the program, the participant agrees to Informed Research Consent. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals that do not meet one or more of the inclusion criteria listed above.