PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — The city of Providence has begun providing guaranteed monthly payments to some low-income residents.

Mayor Jorge Elorza said Wednesday the city received more than 4,000 applications and 110 residents were randomly selected to participate in the pilot program.

They received the first of 12 monthly payments of $500 in November.

Providence announced in July that it was joining a small but growing number of U.S. cities pledging to provide a guaranteed monthly income to a certain number of low-income residents.

Under the Providence Guaranteed Income pilot program, city families living at or under 200% of the federal poverty level were eligible to apply.