For the past two years, the city of Boulder, Colorado, has quietly run an experiment that’s sparked national debate and changed hundreds of lives. The Elevate Boulder pilot program, launched in 2023 and funded with $3 million in federal COVID relief money, provided 200 low-income households with $500 a month—no strings attached. Now, as the program draws to a close in December 2025, its legacy and the questions it raises about guaranteed income programs in America are front and center.
Elevate Boulder wasn’t just another social assistance program. Unlike traditional welfare or food stamps, recipients faced no restrictions on how to spend the money. The idea was simple: trust people to know what they need most. According to CBS News, one participant summed up the impact succinctly: “The first thing that I purchased with the gift was really just going to the grocery store and picking everything that I needed without having to decide. And it’s not like I was buying lobster tails, honey. I was just, you know, I could get, you know, the Greek yogurt and the cottage cheese.”
For many, this monthly infusion of cash meant more than just financial relief—it meant dignity and opportunity. One mother, for example, was able to pay for braces for her child, cover unexpected vet bills, and buy healthier food. Andy Masterpiece, another Boulder resident and program participant, shared at a community event at the Dairy Arts Center on September 21, 2025, that the extra money allowed him to finally pursue his dream of becoming a musician. “There’s financial support, there’s food support, there’s community support, and so I just feel like very like, I’m meant to be here, and this is one of the things that helps me, makes my dreams come true,” Masterpiece told the crowd, as reported by Daily Mail.
Yet, not every challenge was solved. Despite the $500 monthly payments, some costs—like health insurance and childcare—remained out of reach for many participants. “There are people who shared that they have not had as dramatic savings or been able to get ahead as much as they want. That’s really a statement about how much it costs to live here and have your basic needs met,” explained Elizabeth Crow, Deputy Director of Housing and Human Services and one of the program’s leaders. Still, Crow pointed out, “We have some participants who’ve established savings for the first time in their lives. They now have a retirement account.”
The program’s impact was celebrated at the Dairy Arts Center event, where several participants shared their stories. The gratitude was palpable. One participant, who wished to remain anonymous, described the gesture of being chosen for the program as a sign of belonging: “[Crow] knows that maybe I was struggling just a little bit, and you can apply for the program. That gesture to me is saying, you know, we want you to be here. You’re part of our community.”
But as Elevate Boulder ends, debate over its merits intensifies. Critics argue that guaranteed income schemes could discourage recipients from seeking employment or reduce their incentive to work more hours. The concern, echoed by some policymakers and commentators, is that ‘free cash’ might weaken the work ethic that underpins the American economy. Supporters, on the other hand, point to the tangible improvements in recipients’ lives and the dignity restored by trusting people to make their own choices.
Boulder is not alone in this experiment. During the pandemic, more than 20 cities across the United States launched similar guaranteed income programs, according to Bloomberg. These initiatives varied in size and scope, but many provided monthly payments of up to $1,000 for about a year. On average, participants spent about a quarter of the money on food and six percent on leisure and travel, demonstrating that most funds went toward essentials.
Los Angeles, for instance, launched its own Mobility Wallet Pilot Program in May 2023, which ran until April 2024. The program offered 1,000 qualified residents a $150 monthly travel stipend, delivered via prepaid debit card, to cover transportation costs. According to a UCLA study, the end of the program brought renewed financial stress for some participants. One individual lamented, “The financial burden of transportation [is] a challenging one to cut out of my budget. I can try to reduce it as much as possible, but reducing cost means I have to pay in my time. I think the financial support is probably what I miss the most.”
Other major cities, including New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, have also experimented with guaranteed income pilots, especially as the pandemic exposed and deepened economic inequalities. In many cases, these programs were designed as temporary lifelines for the most vulnerable, but their effects have lingered in the collective consciousness—and in the policy debates now underway.
As the Elevate Boulder program sunsets, its leaders are not giving up hope. The group has announced plans to try to bring the initiative back in 2027, but this time, it will depend on donations from the community rather than federal relief dollars. “We hope we can bring it back if we receive enough donations from the community to do so,” Crow said, according to Daily Mail.
The end of the program is bittersweet for participants and organizers alike. While the pilot didn’t solve every problem—some needs, like health insurance and childcare, remained too costly—it did provide a rare glimpse into what unconditional support can do for struggling families. For some, it meant finally being able to save for the future. For others, it was the ability to buy groceries without agonizing over what to put back. And for a few, it was the chance to chase a long-held dream.
The debate over guaranteed income is far from settled. Proponents argue that direct cash transfers are more efficient and respectful than complex welfare bureaucracies, and that the freedom to spend as needed is itself empowering. Detractors remain wary, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability, potential disincentives to work, and the broader implications for American society. As Boulder’s experiment ends, the city joins a growing list of places wrestling with these questions—and the rest of the country is watching closely.
For now, the story of Elevate Boulder stands as both a testament to the possibilities of guaranteed income and a reminder of the stubborn challenges of poverty in a high-cost world. Whether or not the program returns in 2027, its lessons are likely to echo well beyond city limits.
