You are an LDS bishop right?

Guilty as charged.

Giving money to someone because you believe in them helps a lot more than paying someones rent because they have failed.

Maybe… but either way - how will a base income from the government accomplish this? "Free" money from Uncle Sam doesn't indicate belief in me or tell me I've failed. It's just an amount that gets loaded on my debit card every month. I'm still not saying this is a bad idea - I just don't know if we can predict the total outcome. For a large chunk of people, it would be amazing. I'm thinking of the hard working single parents who work two jobs for a basic life, who cling to hope that nothing will go wrong. A stipend from the government would give them some breathing room. But for others, it won't make a difference at all. For these people, poverty is a lack of knowing how to manage themselves. It isn't taught by schools, it isn't taught by their parents. Breaking the cycle of poverty is RIDICULOUSLY difficult to do.

There is some appeal to just giving everyone a chunk of money and removing other programs like WIC, food stamps, Section 8 housing etc…. I like simplicity. But those programs can offer some controls around how the money is spent.

complex issue. complex solution. I wish we could remove some greed, some pride, and some selfishness from all sides.