Miracle Money
Basic Income cash transfers & social support for people experiencing homelessness
Believe In People
Since 2021, we’ve distributed almost $970k to unhoused friends in our social support programs.
We placed virtually no restrictions on their use of these funds.
Here’s what happened next.
2021 Proof-of-Concept
$500/mo
14 recipients
6 months
84% people of color
62% female-identifying
Ages 43-78
Unhoused on average 5.8 years
Results Highlights
66%
of those experiencing homelessness at the outset secured independent housing (6 of 9 recipients)
77%
reported lower levels of psychological distress
100%
felt more financially secure
Spending Patterns
60%+
Food & Rent
11.8%
Spending we didn’t predict that was unique to individual needs - like donating & family graduation gifts!
“Other”
Only 2%
Alcohol, Cigarettes, Drugs
No increase
“I didn’t do it for you, I did it for myself to once again feel the dignity of being able to support the causes that I believe in.”
- Miracle Money recipient who donated back to Miracle Messages
Amazed by these results, we knew we had to do more.
Bigger payments.
More participants.
A longer timeline.
And make it a research study.
Introducing
Miracle Money California
$750/mo for 12 Months
103 Miracle Friends recipients
759 unhoused study participants in a randomized controlled trial
In November 2023, our research partners at USC School of Social Work published an interim report of six-month findings.
Highlights include:
Unsheltered Time down more than half (30% >> 12%)
Wellbeing increased +13%
87% of spending was on necessities - mostly food and shelter
Only 2% on alcohol, cigarettes, & drugs