Just Income
We expand access to income for justice-impacted people so they have the economic stability they need to breathe and take their next step.
We run a guaranteed income (GI) program offering unrestricted cash assistance to people returning to our community with a felony record. The program runs annually, with participants receiving $800/month for a year. We conduct rigorous evaluations to demonstrate its impact and showcase the broader potential of GI.
We consult with organizations across the country that are developing or implementing their own GI programs. We also partner with national organizations and coalitions (e.g. Mayors and Counties for a Guaranteed Income, Economic Security Project, Income Movement, Reentry Cash Coalition) to advocate for expanding GI initiatives.
Guaranteed Income
Developed and managed by formerly incarcerated people, our guaranteed income program is testing a simple and refreshing solution to poverty and inequality.
Our past work demonstrates that a guaranteed income can help overcome barriers to successful reentry and unlock the inherent potential of our justice-impacted neighbors.
We want to show supporters and skeptics alike that poverty is a failure of systems, not people.
Eligibility
People will be randomly selected from our applicant pool to receive $800 monthly for twelve months. Payments are unconditional, with no strings attached.
To qualify, applicants must be Alachua County residents and meet one of these criteria between December 5, 2023, and December 4, 2024:
Released from a Florida state prison
Released from federal prison
Released from a Florida county jail with a new felony conviction
Began felony probation in Alachua County
Most eligible applicants will receive a letter from us with a PIN. If you don’t, call us at (352) 339-9393.
Proof of Alachua County residency is required.
The application is currently closed and will reopen December 2025.
"I appreciate what's happened in my life and I want to give back, and I want to share and give hope to other people. This income has moved mountains.”
- Murray Wilson, Just Income Pilot Recipient
Guaranteed income’s role in breaking the cycle of incarceration
In 2022, Community Spring launched Just Income, our guaranteed income program for people returning to Gainesville with a felony record. In partnership with the Center for Guaranteed Income Research at the University of Pennsylvania, we conducted an 18-month randomized controlled trial.
The study found that participants who received the Just Income payments experienced a 31% lower recidivism rate, along with better financial stability, increased food security, improved mental health, and no decrease in employment.
This groundbreaking study highlights Guaranteed Income as a powerful tool for reentry, offering formerly incarcerated individuals the stability to move beyond survival and towards a future of dignity and opportunity.
Check out our award-winning E-learning Platform
Our E-learning Platform, ReEntry: A Look at the Journey Back to Life, takes users on a journey where they navigate real-life scenarios of life after incarceration.
As you dive into this journey, you may find things frustrating, unfair, confusing, illogical, and stressful. You will see that the path isn’t linear, and there’s not always a clear way forward.
Explore this e-learning platform, designed by formerly incarcerated people, to see how an income floor can mean the difference between freedom and returning to a cage.
Consulting & Partnerships
At Community Spring, our unique lived experiences shape our consulting services. We've successfully launched and sustained a GI program by and for formerly incarcerated people in a tough environment like Florida.
We’ve already shared this expertise with over 30 locations nationwide.
Leveraging Lived Experience
Our deep understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities informs our consulting, ensuring effective and compassionate GI programs. Our GI program fosters dignity and hope, providing more than just financial relief.
Tailored Consulting Services
We help design and support GI programs to meet the specific needs of each community, from planning through to full implementation, based on practical insights and strategic planning.
Join Our Mission
Partner with us to harness the transformative power of Guaranteed Income. With our extensive experience and innovative strategies, we can help you develop or expand effective GI programs.
For more information or to discuss partnership opportunities, please contact us at info@csgnv.org.