United Way of Pierce County

This Feb. 7, 2019, file photo shows the bread section of a Safeway store in Tacoma, Wash.

How much money does your family need to survive in Washington? This report says $77k a year

Mayowa Aina

New data says about one in three Washington households are not making enough money to make ends meet. The ALICE data is a guide for the City of Tacoma's guaranteed income experiment, which recently announced it's extending the GRIT pilot program to new families.

A city front with bridges and a large gray and white domed building flying an American flag on top, water and residential neighborhoods are in the background.

South Sound

Tacoma gave families $500 a month for a year. Could something similar happen across the state?

Mayowa Aina

A proposed bill that would provide two years of unrestricted monthly payments to select Washington state residents comes on the heels of a recently completed guaranteed income pilot program in Tacoma. Dozens of basic income programs happening across the country are providing new data and evidence needed to help shape public policy.

A woman with long graying hair wearing eyeglases sits in what looks like a bookstore with a coffee in front in front of her on the table softly smiling at the camera.

South Sound

Six months into Tacoma’s guaranteed income pilot, a participant describes its impact

Mayowa Aina

To Stephanie Bartella, the City of Tacoma's guaranteed income pilot program, seemed too good to be true. After being selected to participate, she had mixed emotions, including guilt and shame. Six months into the Growing Resilience In Tacoma program, she's reduced her debt, avoided taking on a second full-time job and says the biggest benefit is it's given her time back.