Oakland’s pilot guaranteed income program — one of the largest in the country — allowed participants to stay housed and get employment, according to a study of the initiative released Tuesday.  

Employment rose from 15% to 26% for those participating in the 18-month, $6.7 million program, according to UpTogether, a social services organization that oversaw Oakland’s guaranteed income plan. The program’s analysis also showed that 44% of the participants were less likely to experience homelessness. 

But the program’s organizers acknowledged that guaranteed income isn’t a solution to addressing systemic issues. Despite successes with pilot guaranteed income programs across the country, the initiatives have trouble scaling up since most rely on philanthropy, and whether they can affect peoples’ lives long-term remains unclear. 

Oakland and other cities that are struggling to balance their budgets are an unlikely source of funding for such programs.