Guaranteed income program for families facing homelessness in Santa Clara County
Silicon Valley Guaranteed Income Project
This study is testing if giving families facing homelessness in Santa Clara County $1,000 a month for two years can help them find stable housing and improve their overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (San Jose, California and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05698498 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effects of unconditional cash payments of $1,000 per month for 24 months on families experiencing homelessness or housing instability in Santa Clara County, California. The study will randomly assign 300 families to either receive the guaranteed income or continue with usual care, allowing researchers to assess changes in housing stability, health, and overall well-being. Additionally, the trial will explore preferences for payment structures and their impact on achieving better outcomes. Data will be collected at multiple time points to measure the effectiveness of the intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who are currently experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Not a fit: Patients who are not experiencing homelessness or housing instability may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve housing stability and overall well-being for families experiencing homelessness.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar guaranteed income approaches, indicating potential for success in this intervention.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. ≥18 years of age at baseline visit/assessment 2. Experiencing homelessness, as defined by: 1. The HEARTH Act; or 2. Living in a public or private space intended for temporary (≤6 month) residence, such as residing in a hotel/motel; 3. Residing in a space without a legal right to the space and therefore being at threat of being asked to leave at any time (i.e., no lease); and/or 4. Being in a shared living situation intended to be temporary (i.e., being 'doubled up' due to lack of available and/or affordable housing). 3. Vulnerability-Index Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) score within the eligibility range for referral to rapid rehousing assistance programs in Santa Clara County (score of 4-8 for households), if available at the time of study entry. - The VI-SPDAT score is commonly used by housing assistance service providers to prioritize households for housing assistance programs, where households with scores of 0-3 are lower priority for referral to programs, and households with scores of 9+ are recommended for referral to more intensive housing services such as permanent supportive housing (which combine affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services including health and mental health care, case management and other social supportive services). Households with a score of 4-8 are considered most appropriate for referral to housing assistance programs that may not offer additional supportive services. 4. Living in a household with ≥1 dependent children (i.e., ≤17 years of age at the time of study entry) 5. Written informed consent (and assent when applicable) obtained from participant or participant's legal representative and ability for participant to comply with the requirements of the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Substantial to severe level of problematic substance use as defined by the validated Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) (score of 6-8 or 9-10, respectively). 2. Hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption, or active and severe alcohol use disorder as defined by the validated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) (score of 8-14 and ≥15, respectively).
Where this trial is running
San Jose, California and 1 other locations
- ¡Sí Se Puede! Collective — San Jose, California, United States (Recruiting)
- Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing — San Jose, California, United States (Not_yet_recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Oanh K Nguyen, MD, MAS — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Oanh K Nguyen, MD, MAS
- Email: oanh.nguyen@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 628-206-3755
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.