Care leavers given one-off 2,000 more likely to find housing, UK pilot finds

"It shows that there are some people for whom a payment of that amount at the right time changes their trajectory in life. It enables them to secure a standard of housing and make sure they're comfortable there. The research has been positive in what it tells us about not just the improvements to people's lives, but the reduction in the need for other services, which saves money."

"For the study, 99 young people leaving local authority care in nine areas in England received the one-off sum in June 2023. Their progress was tracked at six and 12 months, and compared with 200 similar care leavers who did not receive the payment. Researchers found participants who received the money were eight percentage points more likely to be in stable housing six months later, and there was a more than six-point drop in sofa-surfing."

The first large-scale UK trial examining unconditional cash transfers for homelessness prevention found substantial positive outcomes. Young people leaving local authority care who received a single £2,000 payment were eight percentage points more likely to secure stable housing within six months compared to peers without the payment. Recipients also reported reduced sofa-surfing, improved happiness, stronger relationships, and spent 12% less on alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. The study tracked 99 recipients against 200 non-recipients across nine English areas. Researchers concluded that timely cash transfers can alter life trajectories by enabling housing security and reducing reliance on other services, ultimately generating cost savings.

Read at www.theguardian.com