girlfreddyAug 30, 2023

A B.C. study gave 50 homeless people $7,500 each. Here's what they spent it on.

https://lemmy.ca/post/4275395

A B.C. study gave 50 homeless people $7,500 each. Here's what they spent it on. - Lemmy.ca

Zhao says having data on how people who did get the money actually spent it is something she thinks will help counteract stereotypes, increase empathy and potentially get skeptics and the public on board with the idea of providing cash transfers. Now that the study is complete, the plan is to replicate it and expand it to other cities in Canada and the U.S.

Show threadMoobythegoldensockAug 30, 2023

The study ignored people with addictions, people with mental illness, and street entrenched (chronically homeless with nowhere else to go) individuals.

I think what they did was good and is encouraging, but it kind of dilutes its own message that “Homeless people are not what you think!” by ignoring the people who are what everyone thinks of.

Show threadFuglyDuck

It’s important to note that a housing-first approach is the gold standard for care. Getting people off the street into a safe, stable, living environment then allows everything else to follow.

If handing out cash gets that to happen, hey, it’s money we’ll spent. But I’m guessing… just handing a wad of cash doesn’t help as much as we might think- even if that is a few months rent.

Most places require prior addresses and such.

Aug 30, 2023 at 1:15pmWeb
Show threadInvaderDJAug 30, 2023
It’s a multifaceted problem and will require multiple solutions to address. Those are always the most difficult solutions because they’re expensive up front and may not show results immediately.
Show threadgirlfreddyAug 30, 2023
But we find no problem in handing out corporate welfare to banks and oil companies to the tune of billions of dollar per year.