"No Strings Attached” Homeless Payments On the Docket in Oregon

Oregon is mulling free cash payments to the homeless.

Oregon could be joining California in giving the homeless – or people who may soon become homeless – a “no strings attached” $1,000 payment each month.

According to Bill Track 50, the universal basic income (UBI) legislation would "provide 12 monthly payments of $1,000 to individuals who are experiencing homelessness, are at risk of homelessness, are severely rent burdened or earn at or below 60 percent of area median income."

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If the legislation passes, Oregon joins Denver, Co., San Diego, Cal. and Los Angeles, Cal., among other cities and states in forging ahead with pilot programs that provide free cash to needy citizens via UBI programs.

The Oregon law would establish the state-wide People's Housing Assistance Fund Demonstration Program, with funds administered by the Department of Human Services. The law would sunset on January 2, 2026.

Separately, the legislation calls for Portland State University Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative “to study long-term cash assistance programs and to report findings to interim committee of Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2024.”

Like with most UBI free cash programs, there are literally no strings attached to the monthly payments – recipients can spend the money any way they wish, with program supporters expecting the cash to go to housing, food, and other living expenses.

One recent randomized trial study by Foundations for Social Change in partnership with the University of British Columbia found that local homeless people who received the free funds stabilized their housing situation more quickly than the randomized control group who did not receive no-strings-attached cash.

Additionally, the Vancouver fund recipients decreased their drug and alcohol consumption by 39% and boosted spending on groceries, rent, and clothing.