Did you know that in California exists the Family First Economic Support Program (FFESP)? This program was created to help low income families and who have kids, from newborns to 5-year-olds. The main goal behind this is that families have economic support allowing them to live without stress, covering their basic expenses, and avoiding issues with the child welfare system.
This program is part of what’s called guaranteed income, meaning the government gives direct money to families without matching any requirement or making them spend the money in a certain way. The idea is to trust in each family knowing what they need. So, let’s learn more about this California benefit.
How much does this program send?
The payments started in December 2024 and will continue up to this month. There will be no interruptions concerning the payments during this period, so that’s great news. Now, let’s see how much these payments are: $725 per month during 12 months, which results in a total of $8,700 in a year.
How you will receive the money
The money is directly deposited on the family’s bank account. However, since some families don’t have a bank account, the program allows them to open a free account at SAFE Credit Union (a financial cooperative in Sacramento). This eases the process for every family so that they can receive the payments with no issues.
California families
This program is not for every family in California, only 200 families can apply for it because the program is being tested. So, the families participating in this must follow these requirements:
- They are taking care of a child 0 to 5 years old.
- They live in specific ZIP codes in Sacramento.
- Their income is low, meaning they do not earn enough to comfortably cover basic needs.
Who manages this program? The Sacramento County Department of Child and Family Services (DCFAS) and United Way California Capital Region. The money comes from the state of California and from private donations.
What can the money be spent on?
One of the most important things about this program is that families can spend the money on whatever they want. They don’t have to hand receipts, explain anything. The money can be used for:
- Rent or housing
- Food
- Bills such as electricity, water, or internet
- Transportation
- Childcare
- Items needed for young children
This support is crucial because many fathers and mothers experience difficult times to balance work, rent, and caring for their children in California, where the cost of living is very high.
Additional services
Apart from the money, families receive other services that can be very helpful such as:
- Financial counseling to help manage expenses
- Workshops on budgeting and financial education
- Help making sure families do not lose other benefits like: CalWORKs and CalFresh
This is important because sometimes when families receive extra money, they risk losing other assistance. The program helps prevent that from happening.
The program is being studied
This program is part of a social research study. A group called MEF Associates is responsible for studying whether this financial support improves the lives of families. Families take surveys at the beginning and end of the program, and all the information is kept private and confidential.
The goal of this study is to learn whether giving money directly to families:
- Increases financial stability
- Helps prevent family crises
- Reduces intervention from the child welfare system
If the results are good, California may use this information to expand similar programs in other cities across the state. Wouldn’t it be great having in mind how this program works and the benefits it gives?