OPINION: OPINION: Renewed hope to lift up Albuquerque families

Yahoo

06-05-2025

May 5—In the world's largest economy, the sad reality is that over 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. With rising inflation and record-high living costs, too many Albuquerque families worry about choosing between buying medication or buying groceries. This day-to-day struggle prevents hardworking people from taking the necessary steps to improve their lives.
In response to growing needs, the city of Albuquerque has launched a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program. GBI recognizes that addressing poverty requires systematic change through direct economic support. This idea isn't new. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and President Richard Nixon supported similar approaches through their writings and policies. Both sides of the political aisle have agreed: When families do well, we all do better.
The movement has been reinvigorated in over 150 communities across the country by a national coalition, "Mayors for Guaranteed Income." After months of community organizing and input, Mayor Tim Keller joined this alliance and announced the first Guaranteed Income Initiative for Albuquerque. We're inspired by the GBI programs in Santa Fe and Las Cruces and are excited to bring those proven positive impacts to Albuquerque. Past initiatives have demonstrated that participants in GBI are more likely to find long-term employment, experience stable housing and spend more quality time with their children. Finally approved by the Albuquerque City Council, our GBI program will pave a transformational path forward by addressing wealth and equity gaps in Albuquerque and offer real hope to struggling families through collaborative community leadership.
This initiative is being led by community-based organizations, with programming overseen by the New Mexico Black Leadership Council and the Partnership for Community Action. The effort is supported by key partners including Albuquerque Public Schools, Prosperity Works and United Way of North Central New Mexico, which is administering the funds to families. The city of Albuquerque's Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI) played a central role in bringing these partners together and securing funding to launch the initiative. The work is further supported by the advisory board of OEI's newly established Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE).
Here's how it works: Eligible low-income families in the International District (District 6) and the Southwest area (District 3) will receive $750 per month, alongside financial counseling from OFE to help them plan for what comes after the program. The first cohort focuses on families in select elementary schools in underserved areas with high need. To protect privacy and build trust, the city won't collect personal data. Instead, we'll learn about the program's impact through anonymous stories and feedback from participants. At its core, this program is about giving people the tools and trust they need to build a better future.
Funding for this initiative comes from the Cannabis Equity & Community Reinvestment Fund. The effort recognizes that cannabis criminalization has disproportionately impacted communities of color. Today, Hispanic, Native and Black populations in Albuquerque experience poverty at rates between 25% and 30%, more than double the 12% poverty rate of individuals who identify as white. This effort is about justice, equity and action. Community members, leaders and city departments came together to design a program that reflects the experiences and voices of those most impacted by systemic inequity. With GBI, Albuquerque is taking an important step toward healing historic wrongs and building a city where more families can thrive.
In Albuquerque, we look out for one another. Guaranteed income is one more way we're lifting each other up, laying a stronger foundation for families, and building a more resilient, more united community for us all.