Nobody Should Be Too Poor to Be Free: Why Guaranteed Income Works and HB 1193 Limits Freedom

At Community Spring, we believe that nobody should be too poor to be free. That’s why we’ve spent the last few years proving what many of us already know in our bones: when people have the resources they need, they thrive. Guaranteed income isn’t just about money—it’s about freedom. The freedom to move toward economic stability. The freedom to care for your children without choosing between groceries and rent. The freedom to stay out of jail, even when the system seems designed to send you back.

The randomized control trial by the University of Pennsylvania on our guaranteed income program, Just Income, put this theory to the test. And the results are staggering: participants saw a 31% reduction in the recidivism rate, meaning nearly a third of the folks who might have ended up back behind bars stayed free—because they weren’t trapped in poverty. In other words, we showed that a third of recidivism is due solely to economic distress.

We’ve watched as participants used the monthly payments to pay off debt, buy work uniforms, support their kids, and carve out a little breathing room in a world that rarely offers any. One participant shared that the extra support allowed them to finally take their medication consistently and go to job interviews without worrying about bus fare. And there was no evidence guaranteed income decreased employment. That’s not a handout. That’s a lifeline.

So why would the Florida Legislature want to ban guaranteed income programs?

That’s exactly what HB 1193 aims to do. It’s a baseless bill, targeting a tool that is already helping Floridians thrive. While it focuses on public funding (and doesn’t affect our privately funded program), it’s a clear political signal: lawmakers are trying to stop cities and counties from offering this kind of freedom to their residents.

Let’s be real about what’s going on. HB 1193 is being pushed by the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA)—an extreme right-wing think tank. FGA and its affiliates have lobbied not just against guaranteed income, but also in favor of stricter rules on unemployment benefits, cuts to food assistance, and efforts to weaken child labor laws and labor unions. This is not about responsible budgeting. It’s about control.

When we talk about guaranteed income, we’re not talking about charity. We’re talking about a powerful, proven strategy to disrupt poverty, promote dignity, and offer people a chance at stability. It works. We’ve seen it. And we won’t stop fighting for it.

We’ll be tracking the progress of this harmful legislation closely. If you care about economic freedom, keeping people out of cages, and evidence-based policy, we invite you to follow along.

Follow Community Spring on social media to stay updated in real time. Together, we can build a Florida where nobody is too poor to be free.