Scientists Gave Homeless People $7,500, Here’s How They Spent It

What is the best way to give back?

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We’ve all heard the story:

Never give a homeless person money.

• Give them food instead.
• Give them clothes instead.
• Give them your time instead.

Otherwise they’ll buy:

• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Cigarettes

But is this even true?

That’s exactly what a group of scientists wanted to figure out.

So they gave a group of 50 homeless people $7,500 each and monitored exactly how they spent their coin.

The results are truly surprising.

Giving 50 homeless people $7500 each

In the vibrant backdrop of Vancouver, something remarkable was taking shape. The New Leaf Project, a venture by the Foundations for Social Change and the University of British Columbia, was all set to challenge some entrenched beliefs about homelessness.

Here’s how it unfolded:

1. Identify 50 individuals who had recently become homeless.
2. Hand each of them a cheque for $7,500 (CAD), no…