♪ >> DOZENS OF HAITIAN MIGRANTS LAND IN MASSACHUSETTS, FLEEING VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY BACK HOME.

MANY HAVE TAKEN SHELTER AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHILE OFFICIALS STRUGGLE TO FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO SAY -- STAY.

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO FIND HOUSING FOR THESE REFUGEES?

THE LAUNCH OF THE CITY'’S FIRST OF THE NATION GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM SET TO GIVE ALL FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER A CERTAIN INCOME THRESHOLD $500 PER MONTH NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

♪ IN RECENT DAYS, THE LOBBY AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER HAS BEEN HOME TO PATIENTS WAITING TO SEE A DOCTOR AND DOZENS OF HAITIAN MIGRANTS IN NEED OF SOMEWHERE TO STAY.

REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ARRIVING AT THE HOSPITAL SINCE THE FALL OF 2021 BUT OFFICIALS WITH BMC REPORT THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS REFUGEES SEEKING SHELTER HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY AS THE COUNTRY, ON THE BRINK OF CIVIL WAR, FACES ESCALATING GANG VIOLENCE, FOOD AND DROP SHORTAGES, AND BARRIERS TO ACCESSING MEDICAL CARE.

BMC HAS BEEN SCRABBLING TO PROVIDE MIGRANTS WITH FOOD, SHELTER, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS INCLUDING THE IMMIGRANT FAMILY SERVICES INSTITUTE.

OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND PLACES FOR MANY MIGRANTS WHO HAVE COME TO THE HOSPITAL.

WITH MORE PEOPLE FLEEING HAITI EVERY DAY, THE STRUGGLE TO FIND SHELTER CONTINUES AS DOES THE STRAIN ON THE HOSPITAL.

I'’M JOINED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IMMIGRANT FAMILY SERVICES INSTITUTE AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND WHICH SUPPORTS IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN THE REGION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR US THE SITUATION IN HAITI RIGHT NOW?

WHAT IS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE FLEEING THEIR?

>> BASICALLY RIGHT NOW, THE SITUATION IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE HAITI WITH GANG VIOLENCE AND CORRUPTION AT ALL LEVELS.

THE GOVERNMENT CAN'’T DO ANYTHING.

PEOPLE CAN'’T GO TO SCHOOLS.

THEY CAN'’T GO TO THEIR JOB EVEN.

ACCESS TO CARE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

AS LONG AS THE SITUATION PERSISTS THE WAY IT IS, WE HAVE TO BE READY TO WELCOME THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'’T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE THAN TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS DEFINITELY OUT OF HAND RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT THESE MIGRANTS ARE FACING WHEN THEY GET HERE TO BOSTON?

>> THE CHALLENGES ARE MANY.

THE BIG CHALLENGE IS TO FIND HOUSING.

THE CHALLENGE IS TO HELP THEM FIND JOBS IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.

A BIG CHALLENGE FOR MANY PEOPLE IS THEY ARE PAROLED INTO THE COUNTRY FOR A SHORT TIME.

SO GETTING AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENTS IS SOMETHING OUR ORGANIZATION DOES IN PARTNERSHIP.

WE ENROLL PEOPLE IN PUBLIC BENEFITS, HEALTH CARE IN MASSACHUSETTS, CASH ASSISTANCE, WE ENROLL THEM IN FOOD STAMPS AND TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

WE DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET THEM STARTED AND THEN WE ALSO WILL HELP THEM FIND JOBS IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO WORK.

>> WHY ARE THEY WINDING UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM?

>> THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE FOR THEM TO GO.

THEY ARRIVE HERE, THEY HAVE A FRIEND IN BOSTON, OR THERE MIGHT BE NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO SO THEY GO TO BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND THEY STAY THERE.

BOSTON OR EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS HAS A THIRD LARGEST CONCENTRATION OF HAITIANS OUTSIDE OF HAITI.

LOTS OF PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE.

THERE ARE JOBS HERE.

THEY HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY HERE.

THEY WANT TO COME TO THIS AREA.

>> ARE SOME OF THESE MIGRANTS WINDING UP AT YOUR OFFICE AS WELL?

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE THERE?

>> SINCE LAST YEAR, WE'’VE BEEN THE ENTRY POINT FOR NEW MIGRANTS WHENEVER THEY ARRIVE FROM THE AIRPORT.

THEY COME DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE.

LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE SAME CRISIS AT BOSTIC IN METAL SENATE -- MEDICAL CENTER, WE WERE VERY INVOLVED.

WE EVEN SIGNED A RELEASE UNDER OUR OWN NAME COMPLETELY.

WE HAVE A LARGE NETWORK OF FRIENDS AND CHURCHES.

WE ALWAYS WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION.

WITHOUT RESOURCES, IT'’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO CONTINUE LIKE THIS.

IT'’S HEAVY ON US.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH SO LITTLE.

THAT'’S THE REASON WHY WE TALK ABOUT THE PRICES.

LAST YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVENE QUICKLY.

WE CAN FEEL THAT HAPPENING THE SAME WAY.

YOU CANNOT TURN OUR BACKS.

THAT'’S WHY I'’M CALLING ON EVERYONE TO DO IT.

WE CAN DO IT AND WE SHOULD DO IT.

>> THE MIGRANTS WHO WERE AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER HAVE FOUND HOMES FOR THOSE WHO WERE SLEEPING THERE.

AS YOU SAID, WE ARE NOT DONE WITH THIS.

THIS WILL CONTINUE.

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE COMING.

YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STEP UP.

ARE THEY DOING IT?

WHAT DO YOU NEED THEM TO DO IN ORDER TO STEP UP?

>> WE NEED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT.

WE CAN FIND RESOURCES TO DO THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING.

WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO OPEN UP THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR HOMES.

WE SAW WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS, A LOT OF PEOPLE DID STEP UP.

THEY DID HELP OTHER GROUPS IN TERMS OF PROVIDING HOUSING.

PEOPLE HAVE A SPARE ROOM OR A BASEMENT.

THEY OPEN UP THEIR HEARTS TO PEOPLE.

WE FIND IT MORE CHALLENGING WHEN IT COMES TO THE HAITIANS.

WE DON'’T FEEL THE SAME LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM, THE SAME LEVEL OF PEOPLE WANTING TO STEP UP TO HELP.

THAT'’S WHY WE SAID WE NEED TO STEP UP.

THOSE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.

REALLY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THEY ARE HERE AND THEY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

THEY WANT TO HELP.

THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE THEM WITH THE HOUSING THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN GO, WORK, CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY, HELP THEMSELVES AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY.

>> WE'’VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

THERE WERE STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN TO WELCOME UKRAINIAN REFUGEES.

ARE YOU SEEING A NOTABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THESE GROUPS ARE TREATED?

>> IT'’S A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT HAITIAN MIGRANTS ARE BEING TRICKED -- TREATED COMPARED TO OTHER GROUPS.

WE ARE OPEN.

WE WANT TO HELP EVERYONE.

WHEN WE SEE THIS MAGNITUDE OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY HAITIANS ARE TREATED COMPARED TO OTHER GROUPS, IT HURTS US.

IT PAINS US TO SEE THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION IN THIS COUNTRY, IT GOES SO FAR.

CLOSING OUT THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US.

THAT'’S A SHAME FOR OUR COUNTRY.

WE NEED TO DO BETTER.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN OTHER GROUPS OF MIGRANTS THAT ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME KIND OF CHALLENGES OR IS THIS UNIQUE?

>> WE HAVE 5000 TOTAL PEOPLE IN SERVICES RIGHT NOW.

THAT INCLUDES AFGHANS WHO FALL BY THE SIDE.

UKRAINIANS WHO FLED THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE.

WE HAVE 2030 HAITIANS.

MANY OF THEM REFERRED TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND SERVICES RIGHT NOW.

THE DIFFERENCE IN FUNDING AVAILABLE TO UKRAINIANS, AFRICANS, AND HAITIANS IS SIGNIFICANT.

THEY HAITIANS ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME SORT OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THAT UKRAINIANS GOT OR THAT AFGHANS GOT.

I WILL SAY THIS.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN MASSACHUSETTS PAST A BILL LAST YEAR THAT FUNDED SOMETHING CALLED THE MASSACHUSETTS RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.

THOSE FUNDS ARE FOR YOUR CRANIUM'’S AND OTHER DISPLACED POPULATIONS.

THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE AND OTHER PROVIDERS IN THE STATE ARE USING THAT FUNDING TO HELP PATIENTS.

USING STATE FUNDING TO HELP PATIENTS.

WE NEED MORE FEDERAL FUNDING.

THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME SUPPORT.

THE IMPORTANT THING TO RECOGNIZE IS THAT, THIS STATE LOST 110 THOUSAND PEOPLE SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOW WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING INTO THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS WHO ARE FLEEING A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM THAT I NEED WANTS TO WORK.

THEY WANT TO GET INTO THE WORKFORCE AND MAKE SOME MONEY.

THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK THREE JOBS, TAKING JOBS THAT NO ONE ELSE WANTS RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED THESE PEOPLE.

WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING THEM FROM A HUMANITARIAN PERSPECTIVE AND EXCITED ABOUT THEM BEING HERE BECAUSE WE'’VE LOST POPULATION AND WE NEED PEOPLE TO JOIN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

>> ISN'’T THERE A BARRIER ON THEM ACTUALLY WORKING?

THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THEIR LEGAL STATUS.

WE'’VE ASSIGNED ONE ATTORNEY ON OUR STAFF TO WORK WITH PATIENTS TO GET THEM EMPLOYER AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENTS AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

IT CAN TAKE A COUPLE MONTHS.

IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR STATUS.

THEY CAN GET INTO THE ECONOMY AND GET A JOB AND MAKE SOME MONEY.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT FOLKS FACE, WHETHER FROM UKRAINE OR AFGHANISTAN OR HAITI OR ANY OF THE COUNTRIES, IS LEARNING ENGLISH.

WE HAVE HUGE WAITING LIST FOR ENGLISH CLASSES.

ALL GROUPS THAT DO THIS KIND OF WORK NEED MORE FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS TO OFFER MORE CLASSES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE.

>> TO A POINT THAT BOTH OF YOU MADE ABOUT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

MICHELLE WU'’S OFFICE PUT OUT A STATEMENT THAT READ, THE CITY AND STATE NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO DEAL WITH THIS CRISIS BY INCREASING CAPACITY TO ISSUE WORK PERMITS TO ASYLUM-SEEKERS, PROVIDING FUNDING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGHOUT A COMMUNITY CENTERED APPROACH, BETTER COURT MATING WITH STATES AND CITIES ON ARRIVALS, AND ESTABLISHING CLEAR PROTOCOLS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND INSECURITY PERSONNEL TO RETURN ALL DOCUMENTS TO MIGRANTS UPON RELEASE.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT, ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN?

>> EXACTLY.

IT TAKES MONTHS OR YEARS FOR SOMEONE TO RECEIVE THE POSITION.

THAT'’S THE REASON WHY THE BURDEN IS ON US.

WHEN YOU ARE HELPING SOMEONE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS, HOPING THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR WORK POSITION AND THEY DON'’T, YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME PROVIDING FOR THEM.

IN FACT, THERE'’S WAYS FOR IT TO BE COMING OUT QUICKLY.

THEY DID THAT FOR THE AFGHANS AND UKRAINIANS.

SOME OF THEM RECEIVED IT IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

OUR PEOPLE ARE WAITING A YEAR TO GET WORK REQUISITION.

THAT'’S WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO STEP UP TO AT LEAST RELEASE THEM TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO TO WORK.

WE FIND PEOPLE COMING IN WITH NO DOCUMENTS OR CONFUSING DOCUMENTS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME WITH ONE DAY OR WORK -- WEEK.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE WHOLE DOCUMENTS ON PEOPLE.

THEY CANNOT DO NOTE -- TOO MUCH BECAUSE THEY NEED THOSE DOCUMENTS.

SO WE HAVE A COMPLEX APPROACH.

>> JUST A MINUTE.

CAN -- WHAT CAN REGULAR PEOPLE WATCHING THIS TO?

IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP?

>> THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO EITHER ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH HAITIANS.

IF THEY HAVE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, NEXT TO ROOM IN THEIR HOUSE, PART OF THEIR HOUSE THEY ARE NOT USING, THEY SHOULD CONTACT ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED PLACES TO LIVE.

THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE FOOD AND CLOTHING.

THEY CAN VOLUNTEER FOR ENGLISH CLASSES.

THERE'’S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO HELP OUT.

THEY CAN ALSO ADVOCATE.

IT'’S IMPORTANT.

WE'’VE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AND OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR AFGHANS AND UKRAINIANS.

WELL-DESERVED, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

THEY CAN ADVOCATE TO THE LEGISLATURE, TO CONGRESS, TO OUR LEADERS.

HAITIANS NEED SUPPORT.

HAITIANS BRING A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO THE STATE AND WE WANT THESE PEOPLE TO COME AND STAY.

>> EXACTLY.

THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME.

SO OFTEN, THEY ARE HERE.

THEY NEED TO ACCESS SERVICES.

PEOPLE CAN COME AND HELP.

WE HAVE A DAY OF SERVICE THIS SATURDAY WITH PEOPLE COMING TO HELP US SO WE CAN SERVE PEOPLE.

WE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE FROM THE SHELTER FOR A DAY OF SERVICE SO THEY CAN COME AND HELP GET >> GREAT.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH.

>> OUR PLEASURE.

>> STARTING JUNE 1, LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH KIDS IN CAMBRIDGE CAN START TO APPLY TO GET $500 PER MONTH, NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

IT'’S THROUGH THE CITY'’S GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAM CALLED RISE UP CAMBRIDGE.

IT'’S AN EXPANSION OF A PILOT PROGRAM THE CITY TRIED OUT IN 2021 WITH 130 SINGH APPEARANCE.

THE PROGRAM INCLUDES ALL FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN MAKING 250% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE OR LESS.

PROGRAMS EXPECTED TO HELP 2000 FAMILIES.

CAMBRIDGE'’S MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH DATE FOR APPLICATIONS AND SAYS THE CITY PLANS TO START SENDING OUT CHECKS IN JULY.

THEY JOIN ME NOW.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> TELL US WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE, HOW IT'’S GOING TO WORK, AND WHY YOU WANTED TO DO THIS.

>> THE Y IS REALLY SIMPLE FOR ME.

CASHIN IS A -- IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL TO HELP THOSE IN POVERTY.

WE SAW WITH CAMBRIDGE RISE HOW MEANINGFUL IT WAS TO FAMILIES WHO SAID, THIS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THEIR KIDS, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

FOR US, EXPANDING IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE.

WE CAN HELP MORE FAMILIES.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, I GREW UP IN CAMBRIDGE.

I SAW MY PARENTS WORKING FOR JOBS CONSTANTLY.

I SAW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR THEM TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

I HEAR FROM THESE FAMILIES DAILY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'’S A GREAT WAY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SAY, WE SEE YOU, WE HEAR YOU, WE TRUST YOU.

WE WILL LET YOU USE THE MONEY THE WAY YOU SEE FIT.

>> GUARANTEED INCOME PROGRAMS DO EXIST AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HOW MANY ARE THERE?

THIS IS A UNIQUE PROGRAM, RIGHT?

>> YES.

WE HAVE MORE THAN 45 PILOTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, RANGING FROM CITIES AS LARGE AS LOS ANGELES TO ONES THAT ARE MIDSIZE LIKE CAMBRIDGE TO SMALLER CITIES LIKE MADISON, WISCONSIN.

THIS IS THE FIRST ONE TO BE EXPANDED TO EVERY FAMILY IN THE CITY THAT NEEDS IT.

EVERY TIME WITHOUT FAIL WHEN WE HAVE ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS LAUNCH, DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WHETHER IT'’S AN URBAN AREA, MIDWESTERN AREA, EASTERN SEABOARD, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'’T QUALIFY AND THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY SPOTS.

THERE WERE ONLY 100 OR SO POSSIBLE OPENINGS FOR PEOPLE.

THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND IT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING THE MOST, THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE CITY, IS A FIRST IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.

WE HOPE THAT IT'’S LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE WHICH IS FEDERAL ACTION.

>> THIS WAS DONE WITH LOTTERY.

THIS IS A NON-LOTTERY PROGRAM.

ANYBODY WHO MEETS THAT REQUIREMENT.

>> ANYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE.

THEY WOULD BE RECEIVING MONEY.

>> THE REASON YOU CAN DO THIS IS BECAUSE OF FUNDING FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT FEDERAL FUNDING AND HOW IT MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

>> OUR PRIMARY, THIS MONEY WAS KEY TO THIS.

IT WAS PUT INTO PLACE TO HELP FAMILIES RECOVER FROM THE ONGOING EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

NOW WE KNOW THERE'’S RECORD HIGH INFLATION, EVERYTHING COSTS MORE.

IT'’S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM FOR US TO UTILIZE.

WE ARE USING $22 MILLION OF OUR MONEY.

IT'’S A BIG CHUNK OF OUR MONEY.

>> YOU ARE DOING THIS BASED ON BUILDING A PILOT THAT YOU DID.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO ME ABOUT THAT PILOT, HOW THAT WORKED.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

>> CAMBRIDGE RISE WAS OUR 18 MONTH PILOT.

IT ENDED IN FEBRUARY.

$500 A MONTH.

WE PARTNERED WITH MAYORS FOR GUARANTEED INCOME, A HOST OF NONPROFITS.

130 SINGLE CARETAKERS.

THESE CARETAKERS, AMAZING STORIES.

WE HAVE LITA WHO TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SHE USE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING FOR HER AND HER DAUGHTER.

SHE DIDN'’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR LONG INSURANCE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHE DID.

WE HAVE OTHERS WHO ARE USING IT TO PAY BACK DEBT, FOR CHILDCARE.

THESE ARE BASIC NECESSITIES THAT FAMILIES ARE USING THEIR MONEY ON.

THEY'’VE SAID IT'’S BEEN REALLY USEFUL AND IMPACTFUL.

>> I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH SEVERAL OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THAT PROGRAM FOR A STORY I DID ABOUT THIS.

ONE OF THEM TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD DEALT WITH CHRONIC PAIN FOR YEARS.

SHE FELT THAT THE LIFTING OF THE STRESS THAT SHE HAD FINANCIALLY ACTUALLY IMPACTED HOW SHE FELT PHYSICALLY.

SHE NO LONGER HAVE AS MUCH ISSUE WITH THE CHRONIC PAIN.

IS THAT THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU'’VE HEARD IN OTHER CITIES?

THAT THE IMPACT GOES BEYOND JUST BEING ABLE TO PAY BILLS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'’S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPACTS.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GUARANTEED INCOME, IT'’S AN ECONOMIC POLICY.

I WISH WE TALKED ABOUT THE INTANGIBLE BENEFITS.

HOW ARE YOU STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY, RESIDENTS, AND TAKING OFF THAT STRESS WHICH IS TOXIC.

IT'’S INVALUABLE.

WE'’VE ANECDOTALLY HEARD THAT AND WE HAVE FOUND THROUGH RESEARCH THAT THAT'’S TRUE AS WELL.

WE JUST GOT THE RESULTS OF THE STOCKTON PILOT THAT LED TO THE FOUNDING OF --.

THROUGHOUT THE TWO YEARS OF THE STUDY AND BEYOND GETTING THE PAYMENTS, THE PEOPLE REPORTED HAVING IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, LESS ECONOMIC VOLATILITY.

I INTERVIEW PEOPLE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND THEY ALSO THE SAME THING.

I'’M ABLE TO BREEZE.

I'’M ABLE TO SLEEP.

THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR KIDS, SHOW UP BETTER AS PARENTS.

THEY ARE SO STRESSED OUT THINKING ABOUT, AM I GOING TO BE ABLE TO COVER GROCERIES, TO PAY FOR THE RENT.

WHEN YOU HAVE THAT SMALL BUFFER OF $500, IT'’S NOT ENOUGH TO PAY ALL YOUR BILLS BUT IT'’S ENOUGH TO NOT BE TERRIFIED THAT IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN, YOU WILL BE ON THE STREET.

THAT'’S A HUGE SENSE OF RELEASE FOR PEOPLE.

>> STOCKTON IS THE LARGEST STUDY OF THIS KIND OF PROGRAM TODAY.

>> SO FAR.

I HAVE LARGER STUDIES HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DATA WILL BE COMING ONLINE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR FROM ST. PAUL TO -- ST. PAUL TO LOS ANGELES CITY TO CHICAGO.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE CITIES COMING.

WE'’VE SEEN THIS AT SCALE.

WE HAVE THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT WHICH MANY PARENTS IN AMERICA RECEIVE.

IT CUT CHILD POVERTY NEARLY IN HALF.

WHEN IT WAS EXPIRED, CHILD POVERTY SHUT UP BY MORE THAN 40%.

THOSE ARE HUGE NUMBERS.

THAT WAS UNRESTRICTED CASH, GUARANTEED INCOME GIVEN TO NEARLY EVERY PARENT IN AMERICA AND IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

RESEARCH SHOWED THE PARENTS SPENT IT ON THE ESSENTIALS.

BEING ABLE TO COVER THEIR BILLS.

BEING ABLE TO PUT GAS IN THEIR TANK.

THE STRESS OF NOT DRIVING TO WORK ON AN EMPTY TANK AND HAVING IT HALF-EMPTY IS STILL NOT FULL.

THAT'’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEBODY BEING ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND NOT.

>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT GOVERNMENT GIVING PEOPLE MONEY WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

THAT THAT'’S NOT HOW GOVERNMENT MONEY SHOULD BE USED, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF HOW THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SPENT.

HOW WOULD YOU REACT TO A CRITICISM LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK GOVERNMENT'’S ROLE IS TO TRUST FAMILIES.

I THINK WE'’VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AND TIME AND AGAIN, WE'’VE SEEN THAT OUR FAMILIES ARE SPENDING MONEY ON BASIC NECESSITIES.

I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE SKEPTICS.

YOU KNOW, I SEE THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT HELPING PEOPLE.

YOU DON'’T HELP THEM BY THINKING, BY NOT TRUSTING THEM AND NOT USING DIGNITY.

WE ARE USING THIS PROGRAM IS A WAY TO SAY, THERE SHOULD BE MORE DIGNITY IN THIS PROCESS.

WE DON'’T HAVE TO CONTROL EVERY LITTLE THING.

WE SEE THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET.

ALL THE APPLICATIONS, ALL THE BARRIERS.

WE MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO BE POOR IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE PEOPLE'’S LIVES BETTER.

>> IT'’S 18 MONTHS.

IT'’S FUNDED BY ARPA FOR NOW.

IT'’S A ONE-SHOT DEAL.

THAT FUNDING IS GOING AWAY.

WE WON'’T HAVE THAT 18 MONTHS FROM NOW.

DO YOU SEE A FUTURE FOR THIS KIND OF PROGRAM IN CAMBRIDGE?

HOW KANEPI FUNDED?

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS LOCALLY ON HOW TO DO THAT LONG TERM.

THEY ALSO NEED STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.

THE CTC.

WE WANT THAT TO COME BACK.

IT'’S NOT AN EITHER OR.

AS A SOCIETY, THERE'’S PLENTY OF MONEY TO BE HELPING EVERYONE.

DOING PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

WE DO NEED BIGGER CONCERTED EFFORT.

CAN'’T JUST BE CAMBRIDGE LOCALLY.

>> ISN'’T THERE A STATE LAW THAT PREVENTS CAMBRIDGE AND OTHER CITIES FROM USING OPERATING FUNDS TO SPEND DIRECTLY TO RESIDENTS?

>> MASSACHUSETTS HAS SOMETHING CALLED THE ANTI-EIGHT AMENDMENT.

LOOKING AT THAT, THAT'’S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WORK THROUGH.

AS WE MENTIONED, PLACES LIKE L.A., THEY CAN USE THE GENERAL FUND.

THEY DON'’T HAVE THE SAME RULES.

THAT IS SOMETHING TO SIX -- EXPLORE WITH OUR PARTNERS.

>> HOW DO OTHER PLACES FUND THIS KIND OF THING?

>> PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS.

ARPA FUNDING.

MANY CITIES HAVE A MIX OF IT.

ULTIMATELY, WE NEED IT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THE REALITY IS, THIS IS A BIPARTISAN SITUATION.

ALL OF OUR MAYORS ARE DEMOCRATS.

WE NEED PEOPLE IN REPUBLICAN LED CITIES TO HAVE RELIEF.

PEOPLE ARE PAYING MORE AND GETTING LESS.

PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO JUNE UNIONS OR BY HOMES.

THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GO TO SOCCER GAMES.

IT'’S ABOUT FIGURING OUT WHAT WE VALUE AS A SOCIETY AND AS A COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF FINDING THE MONEY FOR THINGS WE WANT TO FIND IMPORTANT.

IT'’S JUSTICE.

UNTIL WE ARE GOING TO JEFF BEZOS'’S DOOR AND ASKING HIM WHAT HE'’S DOING TO HELP SOCIETY, I THINK THAT THESE QUESTIONS OF HOW PEOPLE WILL SPEND THAT MONEY -- AS THE MAYOR SAID, PEOPLE ARE SPENDING IT ON THE BASIC NECESSITIES.

LESS THAN 1% IS SPENT ON VICES.

THAT'’S THE KIND OF SOCIETY WHERE WE WANT, WHERE IT'’S BASED IN TRUST AND HOW WE WANT TO BE TREATED.

>> CAMBRIDGE IS AN INTERESTING CITY.

IT HATCHED THIS -- HAS THIS HUGE TAX BASE.

BIG BUSINESSES AND TECH AND PHARMA.

IT ALSO HAS A VERY WEALTHY POPULATION.

EXPENSIVE CITY TO LIVE IN.

THERE IS A SIZABLE LOW INCOME POPULATION.

ROUGHLY 2000 PEOPLE -- 2000 FAMILIES WILL BE SERVED BY THIS.

DO YOU THINK CAMBRIDGE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A PLACE I COULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM THIS?

IS IT MORE POSSIBLE TO DO THINGS IN CAMBRIDGE THAN SOME OTHER CITIES?

>> CITIES IN GENERAL ARE LABORATORIES FOR DEMOCRACY.

I THINK CAMBRIDGE IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT CAMBRIDGE, IT'’S A TALE OF TWO CITIES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING $13,000 PER YEAR.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING $400,000 A YEAR.

I THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD BENEFIT OUR LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

DAY-TO-DAY, THEY ARE STRUGGLING.

WE HEAR ABOUT THAT.

THE MAYOR'’S OFFICE HEARS ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING SUCH A HARD TIME BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND IT'’S BEEN FURTHER EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND COMING IN TODAY.

THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW WITH THE HARVARD PROFESSOR RALLY AGAINST EFFORTS TO SANITIZE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.

ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES SUING FAMOUS BOSTON CHEF BARBARA LYNCH FOR ABUSE AND HARASSMENT.

THAT'’S TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪