Miracle Friends and Miracle Money in California: A mixed-methods experiment of social support and guaranteed income for people experiencing homelessness

Abstract

Abstract Background: This paper describes the protocols for a randomized controlled trial of an intervention initially designed to address social isolation and loneliness among people experiencing homelessness but subsequently paired with an economic poverty-reduction intervention. The social support intervention, known as “Miracle Friends,” pairs an unhoused person with a volunteer “phone buddy.” The poverty reduction intervention, known as “Miracle Money,” provides guaranteed basic income of $750 per month for 1 year to Miracle Friends participants. The study will examine whether either intervention reduce social isolation or homelessness compared to a waitlist control group. Methods: Unhoused individuals who expressed interest in the phone buddy program were randomized to either receive the intervention or be placed on a waitlist. Among those randomized to receive the intervention, randomization also determined whether they would be eligible for basic income, although this was only disclosed to study participants who were participating in the phone buddy program and therefore, eligible to start receiving monthly payments. All study participants, regardless of assignment, were surveyed every 3 months for 15 months. Results: Of 759 unhoused individuals enrolled in the study, 253 were randomized to Miracle Friends only, 267 were randomized to Miracle Money, and 239 were randomized to the waitlist control group. In the two intervention groups, 349 unhoused individuals were matched to a phone buddy, with 172 discharged from the program. Of the 185 study participants in the Miracle Money group who had been matched to a volunteer phone buddy, 105 met the participation threshold and began receiving monthly income. Discussion: This randomized controlled trial will determine whether innovative interventions that involve volunteer phone support and basic income can reduce social isolation and improve housing outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Although we have enrolled unhoused individuals who initially expressed interest in the Miracle Friends phone buddy program, the study team has been unable to contact approximately 30% of individuals referred to the study. This may reflect the general lack of stability in the lives of people who are unhoused or limitations in the appeal of such a program to some portion of the unhoused population.