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 threadInvaderDJ

They also mention that the majority of homeless aren’t that. So this is a nuanced story I think. We may be able to help the majority of the homeless simply by giving them money and/or housing. But for the ones suffering from addiction, mental illness, or entrenched homeless, this won’t be a magic bullet. It will probably take drug and mental health counciling. It probably won’t completely get rid of homeless, and the ones it won’t help are the most visible and won’t problematic.

But we can’t let perfect be the enemy of good. And we already know our current approach is not even to the level of good.

Aug 30, 2023 at 5:52pmWeb
Show threadDulyNotedAug 30, 2023

They also mention that the majority of homeless aren’t that.

Yes, but the majority of visible homeless are.