By JOHN E. SETTLE JR
The city of Shreveport has launched, in the sense of taking applications, its version of the Mayors Guaranteed Income program (MGI), which has been dubbed the Shreveport Universal Basic Income Program).
Shreveport received a $500,000 grant from MGI, a network of mayors that was joined by Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins in 2020.
MGI is funded by a $15 million donation from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey to fund 30 cities for this program.
The Caddo Commission appropriated $432,000 last year for Shreveport’s MGI program.
As designed, 110 single parents will receive $660 per month for a year, with no stipulations on how the funds are to be expended. This funding will be in addition to any other governmental funding.
Single parents are defined to be a "mother, father, stepparent, grandparent, caregiver or legal guardian with a school-age child. The resident must be functionally single, whether married or unmarried. If unmarried, the resident cannot be living with a partner."
Additionally, the parent and child must be residing in the city of Shreveport.
The Financial Empowerment Center of United Way of Northwest Louisiana is providing assistance with applications for this program, which must be completed by Jan. 17.
The city has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the MGI pilot program and the United Way. The MOU sets the basic parameters for each of the parties.
Yet to be completed and approved is a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) by and between the city and United Way and one between the Caddo Commission and United Way. Both the council and the commission must approve each respective CEA.