Researchers Gave Homeless People $750 Per Month and the Results Were Incredible

The controversial idea of giving money to homeless people with no questions asked has been the subject of a recent study that challenges stereotypes. Researchers from the University of Southern California and the nonprofit Miracle Messages carried out a study, giving $750 per month to 103 randomly selected homeless people in San Francisco and Los Angeles for a year. The study found that the recipients predominantly spent the money on food, housing, transportation, clothing, and healthcare, with only a small portion going toward addictive substances. More significantly, those who received the funds were more likely to transition out of homelessness. This study adds to the growing body of research on basic income, and similar positive outcomes were observed in other cities like Denver and Stockton. Some advocates are touting universal basic income (UBI) as a potential solution to poverty and the potential job loss caused by artificial intelligence.