Vancouver new leaf expansion project

Building upon the success of the New Leaf Pilot Project, Foundations for Social Change continues to advocate for direct cash transfers as a tool to transform the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Scaling this work is vital to building the robust evidence base required to transform social policy across Canada and beyond. This starts with the Vancouver New Leaf Expansion Project, which will disburse cash transfers to an additional 200 people experiencing homelessness. 

In the Expansion Project, 400 people experiencing homelessness will be recruited across Metro Vancouver and screened for severe mental health symptoms, addiction, and gambling behaviour. 200 of these participants will receive a cash transfer, quadrupling the pilot project’s impact. The remaining 200 will serve as the study’s control group. 

Essential to the success of cash transfers are the additional non-cash supports that will continue to be offered (and expanded on) in the expansion project. Delivered in tandem with cash transfers, these key resources and services will help participants achieve their goals of financial stability, address the cognitive challenges of poverty, connect back into their communities, and create a personal base on which they can achieve their long-term goals. 

All 400 participants will be provided access to a range of free, non-cash supports, including a community connector, a smartphone and data plan, a unique project app, a Vancity no-fee chequing account, ID replacement, money management training, and peer support program. 

Consistent data collection underpins New Leaf’s evidence-based approach and is key to ensuring that its outcomes are valid and concrete. Scientifically validated measures will be used to track participant progress for two years. Appreciating different ways of knowing, the expansion project will gather personal stories and narratives, which will serve as important supplements to the quantitative data collected.