With 30% of the entire homeless population of America living in California, it’s no wonder that the state needs ways to deal with the ever-growing and overwhelming homeless situation. For one privately-funded program, their goal is to provide basic income to as least 100 California homeless people, as well as one-on-one social support, in order to see how this money can possibly be life-changing for them.
The organization, known as ‘Miracle Money: California,’ is getting its $1.1 million funding from donations coming from Google.org. And researchers from the University of Southern California will be the ones evaluating the use of this cash via a randomized control trial.
During this pilot project, Miracle Messages – the organizing party – will give out $750 every month for 12 months to 100 people that are homeless in the areas of Los Angeles County, Oakland and San Francisco. Plus, every participant will also be matched one on one with a trained volunteer phone buddy to receive weekly calls and texts, with tons of volunteers from all over the globe already waiting in the wings to be paired.
And moreover, Miracle Messages has also been given more than $2 million to launch Miracle Money: California.
It was Miracle Money that was first launched during the pandemic in December 2020. It was also one of the first basic income pilot projects within the United States to include social support as well. During its Proof of Concept Study that was done in the Bay Area, at least 66% of the unhoused recipients – 6 out of 9 – managed to get stable housing with the $500 a month they were given for 6 months. The recipients of the money also used it towards food, transportation, housing, storage, child care, unexpected family emergencies, savings, medication, debt reduction, and other needs.
For the new pilot, over $1 million in total will be given out to the 100 individuals that are chosen using the first cash payments that are already underway. As for Miracle Money: California, it will track the multiple outcomes that should include food security, housing stability, emotional and mental health, and relational poverty, they explain.
Director of the Center for Homelessness, Housing and Health Equity Research at USC, Dr. Benjamin F. Henwood, will be the one to lead the randomized control trial. Through the trial, he will be able to properly assess ‘the impact of social support with and without basic income.’
He says, “20 years ago the idea of providing ‘housing first’ to people experiencing homelessness and mental illness was not widely accepted; today ‘housing first’ is national policy based on rigorous research including a randomized control trial that demonstrated the model worked.”
“Based on promising but limited pilot data, my hope is that science will again demonstrate that there are person-centered interventions that can address homelessness and alleviate suffering; to that end we will let the data speak for itself and be our guide,” he adds.
As for those without bank accounts or mailing addresses, the mechanics for giving out funds goes through AidKit, which is a technology company that focuses on “delivery direct cash with dignity.”
According to the found of Miracle Messages, Kevin Adler, “When we invest in our neighbors experiencing homelessness, offering even modest financial resources and supportive relationships, problems get solved and people get housed. Miracle Money: California hopes to demonstrate that a little bit of love and financial support can transform lives, restore dignity, and help people get off the streets.”
Moreover, they share that AidKit will also allow them to save time for the team of Miracle Messages since it allows them to focus on the necessary relationships they are building with the other unhoused communities that they also help.
As for the nonprofit Miracle Messages, it has won many awards for their amazing work that helps reunify homeless individuals with their families. Since the start of the program, its founder, Kevin Adler and the team, has managed to reunite more than 700 families. In addition, volunteers have also been matched with more than 250 unhoused friends as well, giving texts and call of support of at least 10,000 or more.
See more about their work, or where to donate and even volunteer at Miracle Messages.
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