May 15, 2025
Senator Dave Cortese 1021 O St., Rm. 7520 Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 33 (Cortese) – California SOAR (Success, Opportunity, & Academic Resilience) Guaranteed Income Program – SUPPORT
On behalf of mBOLDen Change (formerly My New Red Shoes), I write in strong support of SB 33: California SOAR (Success, Opportunity, & Academic Resilience) Guaranteed Income Program. This important bill offers a vital lifeline to 12th grade students experiencing homelessness as they navigate the transition from high school to employment or postsecondary education.
Our organization believes that every young person deserves the dignity of choice and the opportunity to thrive. Our mission is rooted in meeting basic needs and advancing economic equity, especially during critical life transitions. We’ve seen firsthand—through our own guaranteed income pilots for underserved students—how even modest, unconditional financial support can create a meaningful bridge to stability. SB 33 reflects this same evidence-based approach, ensuring that youth experiencing homelessness have the resources they need to pursue education, employment, and a more secure future.
According to Census Data, there were approximately 17,000 students experiencing homelessness who were enrolled in the 12th grade in California during the 2023-24 academic year. This represents a 2,000 student increase from just the year prior.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act supports the enrollment and education of students experiencing homelessness. However, these supports cease once a student graduates. There are no dedicated, ongoing state funds designated to assist these students during the summer months following high school graduation, a time when they are exiting a robust support system and attempting to navigate adulthood with limited resources.
Experts who work with students experiencing homelessness report that the majority aspire to attend post-secondary education. Moreover, data tells us that an overwhelming majority of these youth (over 90%) wish to pursue careers that require some form of postsecondary education. About half (50%) of these students enroll in college.
Significant costs associated with enrolling in postsecondary education pose a substantial barrier to low-income individuals. Youth experiencing homelessness who do enroll in college are sometimes subject to the “summer melt” phenomenon, which is when students who have every intention of attending college in the following fall never actually enroll, in part due to a lack of financial resources. Students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and first-generation students are disproportionately impacted by “summer melt.”
In recognition of the need to support youth experiencing homelessness during the bridge between high school graduation and postsecondary education or employment, The California SOAR Program provides $1,000 unconditional cash payments to these youth from May 1, 2026, through August 1, 2026. Guaranteed income has been proven to be a cost-effective policy solution to poverty and income inequality among marginalized communities. The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED) and the Santa Clara County Transition-Aged Youth Basic Income Pilot Program have both produced life-changing results for recipients.
SB 33 equips youth experiencing homelessness with the financial resources to enter onto a path towards stability. The no-strings-attached income model empowers youth to utilize the funds in a way that they feel is best for them, whether that be entering into stable employment or pursuing higher education. For these reasons, mBOLDen Change supports SB 33.
Sincerely,
Board Chair & Executive Director mBOLDen Change