HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Funds that were originally earmarked to be used for Uplift Harris, a universal basic income program which was launched in 2023, have been diverted to other programs following a Harris County Commissioners Court vote.
Commissioners voted 3-1 Thursday to repurpose nearly $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds meant for the program to other needs, according to Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia.
Recommended Videos
The repurposed funds will be divided up for three different purposes:
- $8 million for rental assistance to deter evictions
- $8 million for homeless initiatives
- $2.5 million for food insecurity
“As the recent Kinder Study revealed, the cost of living, food insecurity, and housing/homelessness are three of the top challenges that Harris County faces, and these funds will go directly toward addressing those needs. Making life more affordable, reducing homelessness, and keeping people from going hungry aren’t just the right things to do; our work helps keep the county safe,” Garcia said.
Background
The “Uplift Harris” program, launched in 2023, promised $500 per month for 18 months to 1,928 households selected from more than 82,000 applicants.
The program had been under scrutiny by state lawmakers. Last month, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 2010, authored by Sen. Paul Bettencourt(R-Houston), which would prohibit cities, counties, and other political subdivisions in Texas from using public funds for guaranteed income programs.
In early 2024, Bettencourt sought an official opinion from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the program, which later became the subject of a lawsuit alleging it violated the state’s Constitution.
“This is a massive $20 million dollar plus red flag for taxpayers,” Bettencourt said. “Only one out of every 41 applicants would get a check, while the rest get nothing — and it’s all with taxpayer money. That’s not targeted help, that’s lottery socialism.”