“We screened 732 participants from 22 shelters from four shelter organizations across Metro Vancouver. Our preregistered screening criteria were: age 19 to 65, homeless for less than 2 y (homelessness defined as the lack of stable housing), Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and nonsevere levels of substance use (DAST-10) (21), alcohol use (AUDIT) (22), and mental health symptoms Colorado Symptom Index (CSI) (23) based on predefined thresholds (see SI Appendix, Table S1 in SI Appendix, section 1.3.2). These screening criteria were used to reduce any potential risks of harm (e.g., overdose) from the cash transfer. To ensure accurate responses, the screening survey was conducted under a cover story without any mention of the cash transfer. Of the 732 participants, 229 passed all criteria (31%). Due to loss of contact with 114 participants despite our repeated attempts to reach them, we successfully enrolled 115 participants in the study as the final sample (50 cash, 65 noncash; see Table 1). The sample size was modest but was nonetheless adequately powered to detect statistically significant effects from the preregistered power analysis”
For those not paying attention they chose the people most likely to return to society and gave them the ability to do so. This would resolve homelessness for those who just need a helping hand. This will not address those who are homeless by choice (usually due to mental illness) or are extremely mentally ill.
Im not saying it is a bad study or an idea we should not pursue but no one should look at this as a way to “solve” homelessness.
Aren’t studies like this part of how to solve homelessness, though? Like this method helps around 16%, then other methods can be used to help people who need more resources.
Part of the frustration with dealing with homelessness is that it’s so difficult to help the most visibly homeless, so people think the programs aren’t working or are lining people’s pockets.
Sorry if I wasn’t clearer but yes this is going to address a part of the problem but what many think of when we think of homeless people are the chronically unhoused and those people’s issues are largely mental issues rather than purely financial. This program addresses recent homelessness.
“We screened 732 participants from 22 shelters from four shelter organizations across Metro Vancouver. Our preregistered screening criteria were: age 19 to 65, homeless for less than 2 y (homelessness defined as the lack of stable housing), Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and nonsevere levels of substance use (DAST-10) (21), alcohol use (AUDIT) (22), and mental health symptoms Colorado Symptom Index (CSI) (23) based on predefined thresholds (see SI Appendix, Table S1 in SI Appendix, section 1.3.2). These screening criteria were used to reduce any potential risks of harm (e.g., overdose) from the cash transfer. To ensure accurate responses, the screening survey was conducted under a cover story without any mention of the cash transfer. Of the 732 participants, 229 passed all criteria (31%). Due to loss of contact with 114 participants despite our repeated attempts to reach them, we successfully enrolled 115 participants in the study as the final sample (50 cash, 65 noncash; see Table 1). The sample size was modest but was nonetheless adequately powered to detect statistically significant effects from the preregistered power analysis”
For those not paying attention they chose the people most likely to return to society and gave them the ability to do so. This would resolve homelessness for those who just need a helping hand. This will not address those who are homeless by choice (usually due to mental illness) or are extremely mentally ill.
Im not saying it is a bad study or an idea we should not pursue but no one should look at this as a way to “solve” homelessness.
Aren’t studies like this part of how to solve homelessness, though? Like this method helps around 16%, then other methods can be used to help people who need more resources.
Part of the frustration with dealing with homelessness is that it’s so difficult to help the most visibly homeless, so people think the programs aren’t working or are lining people’s pockets.
Sorry if I wasn’t clearer but yes this is going to address a part of the problem but what many think of when we think of homeless people are the chronically unhoused and those people’s issues are largely mental issues rather than purely financial. This program addresses recent homelessness.