New Leaf Project

About the organization

The New Leaf Project is a Vancouver-based initiative that uses innovative strategies to empower individuals to break the cycle of homelessness. It is currently evaluating the impact of direct one-time cash transfers to people who have recently become homeless.

Grant Description

A grant from the Social Innovation Fund will support New Leaf to enroll 100 carefully screened participants who have been homeless for less than two years owing to lack of opportunity and financial resources. Participants will receive a direct cash transfer of $7,500 to be spent as they wish. A UBC research team will measure according to the kind of help given – cash payments on their own versus cash plus counselling – and compare results to a control group that receives no cash or counselling.