Is the simplest approach really the most effective?
Earlier this year, Dr Ligia Teixera of the Centre for Homelessness Impact shared some reflections on their pioneering evaluation of the power of direct financial assistance for people affected by homelessness.
The premise is simple: give people in adversity cash, and they’ll use it to help deal with that adversity. It’s a widely adopted practice in the context of international development, helping to provide the means for individuals and households to deal with their poverty.
Yet despite its success internationally, it is under-used nationally. As Dr Teixera emphasises in her article, the stigma attached to experiences of homelessness – particularly assumptions about why people are experiencing homelessness – raise significant concerns for some about how people would spend unconditional cash.
Despite these concerns, there is a growing evidence base – internationally and nationally – as to the power of cash, and even unconditional cash. Here in Greater Manchester, we have seen successes in the use of direct cash transfers, and believe there is scope to explore more.
Join Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity for our latest in person panel, spotlighting the debate of direct cash transfers and the power of cash. Hosted by our Chief Exec, Dr Fran Darlington-Pollock, we will be joined by William Wheeler from the Migrant Destitution Fund and Rachel O’Connor from the GMBOP Pathfinder project. These organisations have received funding from Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to support direct cash transfers in their work.
We will also be joined by Jonathan Tan from Greater Change and a Greg Hurst from the Centre for Homelessness International to share a national perspective on these issues.
We’re inviting businesses to learn more about how their support can help us build on this pioneering work, and local authorities to learn more about how this approach might deliver cashable savings for their budgets alongside lasting change for their local people.
Places are limited, so please sign up today.
