Guaranteed income to support HIV care after jail release
Guaranteed Income to Boost HIV Care Continuity and Suppression Post-Jail Release
This pilot will test whether giving guaranteed cash payments—either all at once, monthly, or by participant choice—helps people with HIV after leaving San Francisco County Jail stay in care and keep their viral load down.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 33 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07115901 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This three-arm pilot will randomize up to 33 very low-income people with HIV recently released from San Francisco County Jail to receive a one-time lump sum ($6,750), nine monthly payments ($750/month), or to choose between those two options. Investigators will collect HIV care appointment and viral load data from medical records, administer one baseline and two follow-up surveys, and conduct baseline and endline qualitative interviews about acceptability and implementation. Participants will be offered optional financial mentoring during the intervention period. The trial will compare outcomes across arms and against a retrospective cohort to gauge preliminary effects on retention in care and viral suppression.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) living with HIV who were released from San Francisco County Jail within the past three months, meet very low-income criteria (for example, homelessness or income <30% AMI), can read English, and have an SSN or individual tax ID are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who were not recently jailed in San Francisco, who are not very low income or already have stable housing and viral suppression, who lack an SSN/ITIN, or who have untreated active psychosis are unlikely to benefit from this intervention or are excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, guaranteed cash could stabilize basic needs after release and lead to better retention in HIV care and higher rates of viral suppression.
How similar studies have performed: Unconditional cash transfer programs have improved mental health, basic needs, and employment in other populations, but randomized evidence showing improved HIV care outcomes specifically among people with criminal legal involvement is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older, * Living with an HIV diagnosis * Have a recent incarceration in the San Francisco County Jail (within three months of study enrollment) * Qualify as very low income (for example, currently experiencing homelessness or having an income less than 30% of the area median income). * English literate. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with an active psychosis who are not on treatment * individuals who do not have a social security number or individual tax ID number
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Paul D Wesson, PhD — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Paul D Wesson, PhD
- Email: paul.wesson@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 415-476-2300
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.