Instead of giving the money back to the federal government, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will restore a certain income program to use up the remainder of COVID-19 relief money.
The town received the funds in 2021, but it must manage them all by the end of 2024 and use them all by 2026, or they will be required to return them. Authorities in Chicago are optimistic that the funds may be distributed in full by November.
Last month, thousands of families participated in the aircraft guaranteed income program, and it was common. More than 176, 000 people applied to the system, which only had 5, 000 opportunities. Prior to this program, eligible participants received an additional$ 500 per month without any restrictions.
” The majority of the money will go out and had gone out under this president on the community effort side.” And so it is extremely important to him that we do this correctly and that we return$ 0 to the Treasury, which is what our target is,” said Johnson Budget Director Annette Guzman on Monday.
Guzman claimed that information regarding when the system will resume is still being worked out.
Under previous Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the town received$ 1.9 billion in COVID- 19 pleasure money. Today, the city has a remaining$ 374 million in federal cash it’s left for group jobs.
The federal government has already allocated 88 % of the funds to Chicago, compared to 79 % of the federal budget. The cash saved for group projects, but, has been spent and allocated at a lower portion. About$ 576 million was saved for group plans. The town has allocated about 59 % of that and spent 35 % of it.
Authorities in Chicago acknowledged that they have been hesitant to give these programs the funding they need. The city claimed that the reason for the sluggish activity is because of long standard operating procedures with some companies and federal rules that change about the concept of “obligation.”
People of Chicago enjoyed the assured income system. One claimed that it gave her the impression that she was ultimately “above water.”
” The cash pilot pulled me above water’ cause I could’ve drowned, and I did n’t drown”, said Gail Goodwin, a Chicago resident. ” So it does work, even if it’s for a time”.
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As a security guard, Goodwin is paid$ 16 per minute. She said the more$ 500 alleviated anxiety around financial situations.
” The wealth filled in a gap”, Goodwin said. ” No a big difference, but it helped. It was there, and I knew it was accessible. That’s what helps, to: You know the money is available”.
