Cash Transfers for People Experiencing Homelessness

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The primary goal of the study is to determine the impacts of a one-time unconditional cash transfer on the well-being of people experiencing homelessness.

Detailed Description
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The goal of this project is to examine the effect of cash-transfers for people experiencing homelessness in Metro Vancouver. In partnership with Foundations for Social Change, we will distribute a one-time unconditional cash transfer of $8,500 to each of the 200 participants, with 200 additional participants in a control group who will not receive the cash transfer. To evaluate the effect of the cash transfer, participants will complete surveys 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the cash transfer, and we will track important life outcomes such as housing, employment, health, cognitive function, and well-being.

Official Title
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Cash Transfers for People Experiencing Homelessness

Conditions
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Homelessness, Personal Satisfaction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Cash transfer


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Participants must be homeless at the time of recruitment. Participants must be between 18 and 65 years of age, inclusive. Participants must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada Exclusion Criteria: The following participants will be excluded: Participants who report severe problematic substance use (score ≥ 6 on DAST). Participants who report severe problematic alcohol use (score ≥ 20 on AUDIT). Participants who report severe psychiatric symptoms (score above 2 on item 5 or above 4 on items 13 or 14 on CSI). Participants who report problematic gambling behavior (score ≥ 8 on PGSI).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Participants will be randomly assigned to condition (cash vs control).
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cash<br>Participants will receive a one-time unconditional cash transfer of $8,500 CAD. | Behavioral: Cash transfer<br>* Participants will receive a one-time unconditional cash transfer of $8,500.<br>|
| No Intervention: Control<br>Participants will not receive a cash transfer. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stable housing | Number of days spent in stable housing. | 1-3 months | 
| Homelessness | Number of days spent homeless. | 1-3 months | 
| Savings | Total value of financial assets. | 1-3 months | 
| Total Spending | Amount of money spent on regular and one-time purchases. | 1-3 months | 
| Spending on Rent | Amount of money spent on rent. | 1-3 months | 
| Spending on temptation goods | Amount of money spent on temptation goods, such as drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. | 1-3 months | 
| Cost of shelter use | Estimated societal cost of shelter use based on number of days staying in shelter | 1-3 months |