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Brookline Expands Guaranteed Income Pilot, Tripling Monthly Payments to $750

08:36 PM, 12/03/2025
Brookline Expands Guaranteed Income Pilot, Tripling Monthly Payments to $750

Brookline has launched "UpTogether Brookline," an expanded guaranteed income pilot that increases monthly payments from $250 to $750 for 55 households over 12 months. The program is funded with $460,000 in ARPA dollars and a $76,000 foundation grant and is administered by the Brookline Housing Authority. Eligible households—those affected by pandemic setbacks and enrolled in BHA self-sufficiency programs—may use the funds for essentials, caregiving, or education and will also receive a five-year financial literacy curriculum. The pilot follows similar local initiatives nationwide, though funding and sustainability remain ongoing challenges.

The Brookline Housing Authority (BHA) and the Brookline Community Foundation have launched an expanded guaranteed income pilot, "UpTogether Brookline," that raises monthly cash payments from $250 to $750 for qualifying households.

The pilot will provide 55 Brookline, Massachusetts, households with $750 per month for 12 months. Funding comes from $460,000 allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a $76,000 grant from the Brookline Community Foundation, together supporting the yearlong payments and program administration.

BHA Executive Director Ben Stone confirmed that the housing authority is administering the program. Eligible participants are households that experienced pandemic-related financial setbacks, currently receive state or federal housing assistance, and are enrolled in BHA’s Self-Sufficiency Programs. Recipients can use the funds for groceries, caregiving, education, or other basic needs.

Program design and supports

In addition to monthly cash assistance, the pilot pairs payments with a five-year financial literacy curriculum delivered through the BHA to help participants build long-term financial skills and stability.

UpTogether describes itself as “a systems change organization that recognizes that poverty is created by systems, rooted in racism, and perpetuated by false views of people considered ‘poor.’”

Brookline’s expanded pilot follows a wave of local guaranteed-income tests across the U.S. A coalition of mayors has promoted pilots that provide eligible residents up to $1,000 a month with no conditions, and some counties have moved from short-term pilots to permanent programs after positive results.

Context and challenges

Research on guaranteed income pilots often reports benefits such as improved financial stability and reduced stress for recipients. However, many programs face hurdles including limited funding, questions about long-term sustainability, and occasional legal or administrative challenges that can constrain expansion.

Brookline’s pilot is intended as a one-year cash support experiment paired with longer-term education to evaluate impacts on household stability and economic mobility. Local officials plan to monitor outcomes to determine whether similar supports should be scaled or adjusted in future efforts.

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