Former presidential candidate launches universal basic income program in Hudson

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During his run for United States President, Andrew Yang pushed the discussion of universal basic income (UBI) – a set amount of money for each American every month. And even though Yang’s presidential run ended, his quest for UBI has been launched as a pilot program, called HudsonUp, in the City of Hudson. 

“Receiving a form of UBI allows you to begin making meaningful, long-term plans. It allows one to think beyond next month’s bills,” Yang said. “We’re going to see families benefit enormously from receiving $500 a month for five years.”

The program – piloted by The Spark of Hudson and Humanity Forward – will provide 25 Hudson residents with $500 per month for five years, totaling $30,000.

“In light of the current ongoing crisis, this pilot will give a glimpse of hope to our constituents, many of whom are facing various financial burdens,” said City of Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson. “This pilot will provide a cushion for families, and this support could be life-changing.”

“Hudson is a small, diverse community of approximately 6,000 residents, of which nearly a third live at or below the poverty line. Compared to major cities (especially its downriver neighbor, New York City), the cost of living in Hudson is low. These characteristics make it such that even a relatively small-scale pilot like HudsonUP can have a real impact on the lives of its participants and the community at large,” according to HudsonUP.

Residents of Hudson can currently apply for the HudsonUp universal basic income project. The deadline to apply is 11:59pm on September 20, 2020. Participants must be Hudson residents, 18 years or older, with a max income of $35,153. The program is slated to launch later this fall with selected participants notified by Saturday, September 26, 2020. For full requirements + info, visit: https://www.hudsonup.org/

On Wednesday, September 17, 2020 at 5pm, City of Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson and Andrew Yang will host a virtual town hall to discuss the UBI project. The virtual town hall will streamed live on Youtube and Facebook.

Welcome to Mayor Kamal Johnson's Virtual Town Hall Conversation with Humanity Forward Founder, Andrew Yang. Tune in to learn more about UBI, Andrew Yang, his...
“In light of the current ongoing crisis, this pilot will give a glimpse of hope to our constituents, many of whom are facing various financial burdens ... This pilot will provide a cushion for families, and this support could be life-changing.”
— Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson
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