Stockton's mayor, 27-year-old Michael Tubbs is launching three new programs to help low income residents.
Aid initiatives include a $500 monthly check for low-income citizens, $1,000 college scholarships for those who graduate from local public high schools and cash stipends for violent criminals.
Stockton is one of California's poorest and most crime-ridden cities. The median income of residents is $46,000 a year, according to the Census.
Private donations are funding all three programs.
The basic income program, which would be the first in U.S. history, is expected to begin in early 2019 with a test group of roughly 100 people.
The scholarship program will also start offering $1,000 yearly scholarships in 2019 to those who have graduated from one of Stockton's public schools. Students are required to have above a 2.0 GPA and must apply for a minimum of two other grants or scholarships.
Tubbs teamed up with the city of Richmond's Advance Peak program that tries to rehabilitate men who have regularly engaged in gun violence. If member's go through six months of daily check-ins with a case manager, get a job and obtain a driver's licence, they will be given a monthly stipend of up to $1,000.
If he sees success, Tubbs hopes to gain more support and have other governments adopt similar programs.