Key steps in building a UBI pilot: Making the case

To many observers, a universal basic income pilot may seem like a lofty, pie-in-the-sky idea. But programs like HudsonUP don’t materialize out of thin air — more planning, strategizing, and convincing goes into it than meets the eye, and it’s an ongoing process. The process begins by making the case for the pilot.

Before anything else, it’s important to draft a prospectus, including anticipated FAQs, possible risks, and ways to mitigate those risks. When we started planning HudsonUP, we quickly found that we needed to speak to all kinds of stakeholders to really get at the most important risks, and the questions that people would have about the program. Those stakeholders include people like Mayor Kamal Johnson, who knows the people of Hudson from a leadership perspective, as well as the local Department of Social Services, who have an understanding of the complex issues of government benefits and how those programs would interact with our pilot.

But we also had to make sure we got diverse perspectives from across Hudson, and from people who are doing similar work around the country. We’ve spoken with the people who run the UBI pilot in Stockton, CA, with folks who work at community organizations like Kite’s Nest, Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, and Columbia County Sanctuary Movement. We’ve engaged social workers, storytellers, and financial institutions. And we’ve talked with creators and artists — as well as activists — who help us understand the issues that residents of Hudson, those in the income bracket that would qualify them to apply for HudsonUP, really care about. We need to understand all those perspectives — especially those of the residents in that income bracket, earning under $35,153 per year, who live in the unique city of Hudson, largely Black people and people of color.

Working with this diverse group not only showed us what the risks and benefits are of running this pilot in this city, but it also made clear what questions folks have about a program like this.

For example, Is it too good to be true - someone is really giving free money away? That sounds like a scam.

That’s something we have to help people understand, that this is real!

We also know, from talking with these stakeholders, that there’s nothing more important than trust. Folks who participate in our pilot need to know that their information is safe with us. Communicating with individuals and groups that represent a broad cross-section of the community is what helps us make a program that can really work for the people.