An estimated one in four Boulder households does not have enough income to meet basic needs. This is true even for people who work and receive food, healthcare and housing assistance. Federal impacts on benefits programs for low-income households, and budget constraints at the state and local government levels, mean more people are going to slip through the holes in our social safety net. 

In 2023 the City of Boulder launched the Elevate Boulder guaranteed income pilot project with $3 Million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, to provide 200 low-income Boulder households with $500 per month in direct cash assistance for two years, no strings attached.

The results are in: Elevate Boulder participants shared in surveys and through stories that they experienced significantly less difficulty in affording food, paying housing and utility costs; and experienced improved mental health and overall physical health among other benefits. Many participants also reported improved relationships with children, family members and coworkers, and were able to pursue educational and job training opportunities that may improve financial stability longer-term.

“Cash transfers have been proven to be one of the most efficient and impactful ways to address poverty the world over. The Elevate Boulder program provides critical resources that help low-income households make ends meet.”  - Julie Van Domelen, former Director, Emergency Family Assistance Association

“The Elevate Boulder program is giving our neighbors what they've always had the ability to achieve—financial stability and peace of mind—by removing the barriers that kept them from reaching their potential, and the results speak for themselves with families finally able to breathe easier and plan for their futures."  - Cathy Hill, Elevate Boulder Fund donor                     
If you believe in the power of direct cash assistance, you can join the city to help make sure Elevate Boulder can continue to provide unrestricted direct cash assistance past the pilot phase.

This fund is hosted by Community Foundation Boulder County. All donations to the fund will support the Elevate Boulder program.
 

Learn more about this transformative project on the Elevate Boulder website. For more information, contact Elizabeth Crowe at crowee@bouldercolorado.gov or by phone at 303-441-1928.