A new study shows that Santa Fe’s guaranteed income program made a real difference in the lives of local student parents. Called the Santa Fe Learn, Earn, and Achieve Program (Santa Fe LEAP), the program helped 100 students by giving them $400 a month with no strings attached. This monthly cash helped them take care of their families, stay in school, and improve their overall life situations.
The project was led by Mayor Alan Webber and involved several partners including Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, Santa Fe Community Foundation, and Santa Fe Community College. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania studied the impact of the program—and the results were very positive.
What Is Santa Fe LEAP?
Santa Fe LEAP was a pilot program that ran from October 2021 to November 2022. It gave 100 low-income community college students who are also parents a guaranteed income of $400 per month. The money was unconditional, which means students could use it however they needed—on groceries, rent, bills, childcare, or transportation.
The students were chosen randomly through the Expanding Opportunities for Young Families (EOYF) program. To qualify, students had to be:
- Under 30 years old
- Enrolled at Santa Fe Community College
- The main caregiver for at least one child
- Earning less than 200% of the federal poverty line
How Did It Help?
Employment Improved
One of the biggest successes of the program was an increase in employment. Within six months of joining the program, more participants had full-time jobs. In fact, full-time employment increased by 19 percentage points. Some stay-at-home parents were also able to rejoin the workforce.
Financial Security Increased
Before the program, only 22% of participants said they could handle a sudden $400 emergency expense. After the program ended, that number had jumped to 39%, showing that the financial help had a lasting impact.
Better Housing and Neighborhoods
More participants moved into better homes and safer neighborhoods. At the start of the program, 54% said they lived in good housing. After the program, that number increased to 76%. Similarly, 40% reported living in a good neighborhood at the start, which rose to 65% after the program.
Why This Matters
Mayor Webber says the program is helping solve one of the biggest problems facing New Mexico: poverty. “This successful program directly addresses the fundamental problem that is holding New Mexico back,” he said. “With a certificate or diploma, these students can get good-paying jobs and break the cycle of poverty. It works.”
The Santa Fe LEAP program was the first in the U.S. to focus on community college students who are also young parents. Since the release of the results, Wayne County, Michigan has already adopted the same model to help their own students.
More Than Just a Check
This program came at a critical time. Students were dealing with rising costs for food, housing, and other needs due to inflation, as well as increased family responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Santa Fe LEAP gave them flexible cash that could be used where it was needed most.
A National Trend
Santa Fe LEAP is part of a larger movement. It’s supported by Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, a group of over 170 mayors from across the country. Studies from similar programs in other cities show similar results: more financial security, better health, and stronger family bonds.
Santa Fe LEAP is more than a pilot project—it’s proof that guaranteed income programs can help real people in real ways. For young student parents, that extra $400 a month helped them stay in school, get better jobs, improve their housing, and move toward a more secure future. With more cities following Santa Fe’s lead, this could be the start of something big.