March 21, 2024- Alexandria Recurring Income for Success and Equity (ARISE) is the City of Alexandria’s guaranteed income pilot study, which began in February 2023. ARISE provides a $500.00 monthly payment to 170 randomly selected participants for 24 months with “no strings attached,” giving participants freedom to choose how to spend the money. Learn more about ARISE and find the answers to frequently asked questions.
ARISE Participant Interview: Adam
In the Skyline area of Alexandria, in late 2022, "Adam* was standing in line to pay for groceries when he spotted a flyer advertising the ARISE program. He thought it sounded familiar; a family member had read about the ARISE program in the newspaper and had mentioned it to Adam. The two talked about the validity of the program. Adam wondered if it was a way of gathering data about residents, but after a discussion with his family, he felt encouraged to apply.
When he found out he was randomly selected, he couldn’t help but marvel at his stroke of luck. Adam, originally from Ethiopia, has been living in the US for five years. He is 55 years old, and he and his wife have two children. He works at a gas station where he earns $12 per hour, bringing home around $1,200 a month, which simply wouldn’t meet his needs. Prior to his job at the gas station, he was a teacher, and as a second job, he worked in security at Inova Hospital. That schedule was grueling and eventually became unsustainable, so he was pleased with the new schedule and the normalcy that came with the gas station work. Having been selected for ARISE’s $500/month payments, his quality of life has greatly improved.
“An extra $500 a month is a lot of money for me,” says Adam. “I can pay bills comfortably, and when my kids ask me to buy them something or take them somewhere, I don’t have to say no. Before, my budget didn’t allow for any nonessential purchases.”
Adam is clearly relieved that he no longer has to work two jobs. His old schedule barely gave him time to change uniforms between jobs. Another benefit he is grateful for is the simple joy of getting takeout or food delivery. Before, when he or his wife were tired, they felt compelled to cook in an effort to cut costs. And thanks to the new work schedule, Adam is enjoying being much more present at home with his wife and children.
Adam took a moment to express gratitude for the support provided by the City. He is grateful not only for ARISE, but for the care and sincerity he felt from the program administration. He praised the program’s transparency and clear criteria for assistance and emphasized the importance of community support to uplift Alexandrians.
There is one year left in the program and Adam is planning for life after ARISE. He holds a master’s degree in physical education from a university in Ethiopia, but it doesn’t meet the specific criteria for teaching in the US. He is exploring other job opportunities or business ventures and fully embracing the freedoms and opportunities unique to the US. “Anyone who works hard can make it here,” he says. And if there’s one thing that quickly becomes evident from conversing with Adam, it’s his work ethic and diligence. We look forward to seeing how the coming year unfolds for Adam.
See February 2024 Stories from ARISE
See October 2023 Stories from ARISE
See August 2023 Stories from ARISE
* The names have been changed to protect the participants' identity.