Reducing homelessness using direct cash transfers (expansion project)

The goal of this project is to examine the effect of one-time unconditional direct cash-transfer to recently homeless individuals in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Building on promising results from our research team’s ground-breaking pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 50 cash recipients, the current project seeks to confirm this preliminary evidence using a larger RCT with 200 cash recipients. To evaluate the impact of the cash transfers over time, participants will complete surveys before receiving the cash, and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the cash transfer. At each timepoint, participants will report on outcomes related to housing, employment, subjective well-being, health, and cognitive function. The results will provide the most robust and comprehensive evidence of the impact of cash transfers as a tool to address poverty to date.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jiaying Zhao

Student:

Partner:

Foundations for Social Change

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: