Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla today announced his signing of an Executive Order to establish a Guaranteed Basic Income Task Force, which will be charged with designing and preparing a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot program to strengthen the financial stability of low-income Hoboken residents.
“This executive order marks an important step toward a fairer Hoboken,” said Mayor Bhalla. “Guaranteed basic income programs across the country have shown the power of direct, unconditional cash assistance to help families meet their needs while reducing economic stress. By laying this critical foundation, we are putting the City in a strong position to deliver a thoughtful, evidence-based pilot that reflects the values of our community. I am grateful to the City of Newark and the Mayors for Guaranteed Basic Income as well as the other experts my administration has worked with who have helped guide the development of this initiative.”
About 7.1 percent of Hoboken’s population lives below the federal poverty line, and rising housing and living costs place considerable pressure on low- and moderate-income households. These pressures disproportionately affect families with children, seniors on fixed incomes, and residents whose wages have not kept pace with Hoboken’s overall economic growth.
The Executive Order affirms the City’s commitment to pursue strategies to reduce economic inequality and strengthen financial stability. The Order describes Guaranteed Basic Income as an unrestricted monthly cash payment provided directly to individuals, without conditions, which supplements and does not replace existing safety net supports. The Executive Order also states that a portion of revenue generated by the Cannabis Transfer Tax could support the pilot program and cites findings from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey indicating that households with children tend to spend direct financial assistance quickly on basic goods, positively impacting the local economy.
“Newark’s guaranteed income program has shown that direct cash assistance can deliver real results by helping families stabilize their finances, reduce stress, and invest in their futures,” said Mayor Ras Baraka of the City of Newark. “We’ve been proud to share our experience and lessons learned with the City of Hoboken as they establish this Executive Order because when cities work together to advance proven solutions, we strengthen our communities and move closer to an economy that works for everyone.”
“As the affordability crisis pushes families closer to the brink, the City of Hoboken is taking leadership to boost financial security among residents. Guaranteed income pilots have shown promising results in New Jersey, helping people afford basic necessities, build savings, reduce stress and invest in their children,” said Michael D. Tubbs, Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. “Unconditional cash assistance interrupts cycles of poverty and improves wellbeing, and that benefits families and communities.”
“In St. Paul, our guaranteed income pilots have shown that when families receive unrestricted cash support, they invest it in housing, food, childcare, and opportunity,” said Mayor of St. Paul, Minn. Melvin Carter, a founding member of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. “Hoboken’s decision to study and implement a guaranteed basic income pilot program through a dedicated task force is a thoughtful, evidence-based step toward addressing the real root of economic insecurity and I commend Mayor Bhalla for his leadership on this issue.”
The Task Force will be responsible for developing eligibility criteria, monthly payment levels, pilot duration, additional funding strategies, evaluation standards, community outreach and more. It will be comprised of representatives of the City of Hoboken, the Hoboken Housing Authority, and local nonprofit and legal service organizations that work closely with residents experiencing financial hardship including HOPES, the Hoboken Shelter, and the Hoboken Community Center.
Those interested in joining the GBI Task Force must submit an application for appointment at https://hoboken.seamlessdocs.com/f/AppforAppointmenttoBoardsampCommissions by Jan. 9, 2026, for Mayor Bhalla’s consideration for a two-year term.
Once selected, the GBI Task Force members will provide quarterly reports to the Mayor and City Council, and submit a final implementation plan within 90 days, with the goal of launching the program in early winter 2027.
