To tackle the growing crisis of homelessness, Kevin Adler, founder of the San Francisco-based nonprofit Miracle Messages, is advocating for an unconventional yet promising solution: universal basic income (UBI).
Miracle Messages' initial basic income pilot involved giving $500 per month for half a year to 14 people experiencing homelessness. The results? Two-thirds of the participants secured stable housing by the end of the program. "They use the money better than I could have used it for them," Adler said, as reported by Austin Monitor.
The organization didn't stop there. With support from tech giants like Google, a large-scale randomized trial has been rolled out across California. In partnership with the University of Southern California, Miracle Messages is distributing $1 million in payments to recipients, increasing the monthly amount to $750. This bold move saw the percentage of participants without homes drop from 30% to 12% in just six months.
When put against the stark backdrop of city spending—estimates indicate each unhoused person costs the public between $40,000 to $80,000 annually—such programs beg a reconsideration of the allocation of funds aimed at solving homelessness. Yet, skepticism persists among public officials over UBI, rooted in concerns over substance abuse and wasted resources. "The pushback is the optics. The concern is folks are going to be using it on substances or is it going to go to waste?" Adler told Austin Monitor.
Adler's mission extends beyond the financial. Through Miracle Messages, he aims to rebuild the social fabric torn asunder for many who find themselves on the streets. His initiatives include family reunification services and a phone buddy system, cultivating empathy and reminding us that those facing homelessness are largely individuals with stories, struggles, and a past not dissimilar to our own. "Once you get close enough to hear someone’s story, what the challenges and barriers are… the answer is housing first, yes, but it’s understanding what’s been the barrier to housing," Adler explained in his talks, as per Austin Monitor.
