Los Angeles has just launched a guaranteed income program that will select 1,000 residents to earn $1,000 over three years. 

On Thursday dozens of residents lined up in South Los Angeles to apply for the 'Breathe: LA County's Guaranteed Income Program'- California's latest Universal Basic Income program.

The no strings-attached program will provide $1,000 to 1,000 Los Angeles residents every month for three calendar years through a debit card provided by the County.

In order to qualify for the program L.A residents must be at least 18-years-old, have a household income below $56,000 for a single person or $96,000 for a family of four, and have been financially affected by the pandemic. 

Applicants must also live in a neighborhood where the median household income is not higher than the county's.

Application for the program, which launched on Thursday, will be open until April 13. 

This is the latest such program in California, last year LA county launched BIG:LEAP, will provided $1,000 in cash to 3,200 households and Compton and Long Beach also launched similar programs over the last year.  

At the time, Mayor Eric Garcetti called it 'the largest guaranteed basic income program anywhere in the United States of America.'

A version of the UBI program, which was popularized by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, has gained more attention after the pandemic idled millions of workers. 

Cities across the country are trying out pilot guaranteed income programs as researchers hope the results give them a fuller picture of what happens when a range of people are sent payments that guarantee a basic living.

Last October Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced the launch of a $31 million universal basic income pilot that would give $500 a month to low income families.