Find out if you qualify for $500 monthly payments under a $20.5million pot to help Americans rise above poverty

A potential new $20.5 million program aimed at reducing poverty 

and reducing income inequality has been proposed by legislators.

An expanding metropolitan area would benefit from the new guaranteed income 

Program by giving low-income residents $500 checks each month.

A multi-million dollar program has been announced in Harris County, Texas, 

with officials calling the assistance a necessary investment.

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In a statement, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said it is uncivilized that people cannot afford basic necessities.

It is possible that we all know hard-working families whose stable path may be at risk because of one extra expense."

A proposal called Uplift Harris would be fully funded by the local government.

A pilot program would be launched later this year by Harris County,

the home of Houston, Texas, the country's fourth-largest city.

Individuals living 200 percent below the federal poverty line would

 Receive monthly checks from the county.

This program would be available to a Harris County family of four making less than $40,000 a year.

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