Preliminary Results: What Did Homeless People Do With 100,000 CZK?

A year-long experiment in Prague has tested a simple question: what happens when people without stable housing are given money with no conditions attached. The answer, according to researchers, runs counter to common assumptions. In the study, 40 people experiencing homelessness each received a one-time payment of 100,000 Czech crowns. They were free to spend the money as they chose, without oversight or restrictions. Researchers tracked their progress over the following 12 months. The findings suggest that most participants did not spend the funds on alcohol or drugs, as is often assumed. Instead, many used the money to cover basic needs and secure housing. By the end of the study period, around 80 percent had found some form of accommodation, and more than half managed to maintain it. The project, known as New Leaf Czech, followed a total of 100 participants divided into three groups. In addition to those who received cash, 20 people worked closely with a dedicated social worker, while another 40 formed a control group with no direct support. Melanie Zajacová, who led the research and heads the Department of Social Work at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, said the results were stronger than expected.... The post Preliminary Results: What Did Homeless People Do With 100,000 CZK? appeared first on Prague Morning .

Go to News Site