Google is co-funding a guaranteed basic income trial that gives families $12,000 a year to help keep them housed

• Google is co-funding a $2.8 million guaranteed income pilot in California's Bay Area.
• The program will give $12,000 over a year to 225 families to help them secure long-term housing.
• Universal basic income programs have surged in popularity as a poverty-fighting tool.

Alphabet-owned Google is co-funding a pilot program that will give $2.8 million to 450 California families on the verge of homelessness to test whether the cash helps them secure long-term housing.