A guaranteed income program that aimed to provide monthly cash assistance to some of Harris County’s most vulnerable families has been permanently scrapped following a vote by the Harris County Commissioners Court.
The move comes after a prolonged legal battle with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who repeatedly challenged the initiative’s legality.
Commissioners voted 3-1 to reallocate the program’s funds to other social service efforts, including rental assistance and homelessness initiatives. The decision marks the end of the Uplift Harris program—later renamed the Community Prosperity Program—which would have provided $500 monthly payments for 18 months to residents living in the 10 Harris County ZIP codes with the highest poverty rates.
“That $500 a month would not have made anyone rich, but it would have made a difference,” said Houston resident Aaliyah Monroe, a single mother of two who hoped to qualify for the program. “The state stepped in and shut it down not because it was failing, but because they did not like what it stood for: dignity, stability and fairness.”
A program cut short
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Commissioner Rodney Ellis championed the initiative to support low-income households struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, housing, childcare and medication.
“This was about helping people survive—people who are working hard and still not making enough,” Ellis said. “Unfortunately, in Texas, Attorney General Paxton misled the public and politicized this program.”
Paxton first sued Harris County in April 2024, arguing that using public funds for direct cash payments violated the Texas Constitution. After the county revised the program to address those concerns, Paxton filed a second lawsuit in September. The legal uncertainty ultimately made the program’s implementation unworkable.
While Ellis and other supporters insisted the initiative was legally sound and morally necessary, critics, including state Republican leaders, labeled it “lottery socialism” and accused local officials of misusing taxpayer funds.
Texas Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) introduced legislation earlier this year that would have prohibited any state or local government from funding or operating a guaranteed income program. Although the bill failed to pass, the lawsuits had already stalled the program’s rollout.
Funding redirected
With the legal battles unresolved and the political pressure mounting, the Harris County Commissioners Court voted this week to redirect the $20.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that was earmarked for the program.
Ellis expressed disappointment but emphasized the county’s continued commitment to addressing poverty in other ways.
“While extremists at the state level continue to pass legislation that perpetuates poverty, Harris County will continue to fight for working people, families, and a brighter future for our residents,” Ellis said.
The newly redirected funds will support rental assistance and services for individuals experiencing homelessness, critical issues in a county where rising housing costs continue to burden low-income residents.
Community reaction
Many community advocates say the demise of the program represents a missed opportunity.
“This was a lifeline for families in historically underserved neighborhoods—families who are often ignored by the system,” said Erica Bailey, a community organizer in Northeast Houston. “Instead of uplifting them, we’ve just seen them pushed further to the margins.”
Still, county officials are urging residents to stay engaged and hopeful.
“This fight is not over,” Hidalgo said in a statement. “We will keep working to create systems that work for everyone, not just those with power.”
With the program officially ending, the focus now shifts to how the redirected funds will be used and whether Harris County leaders will revisit guaranteed income or similar programs.
