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submitted 1 year ago by sv1sjp@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

"They did not spend more money on alcohol or drugs, contrary to what people believe, and instead they spent the money on rent, food, housing, transit, furniture, a used car, clothes. It's entirely the opposite of what people think they're going to do with the money."

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[-] neatchee@lemmy.world 170 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Unsurprisingly, when people are given enough money to make immediate, material improvements to their life, they do.

If you're homeless and miserable, suffering psychological and/or physical pain, and someone gives you $20, the most immediate relief for that suffering is often escapism into things like drugs and alcohol. In situations of extreme distress, humans tend to favor solutions that immediately, if only temporarily, remove the stress. We see this behavior all across humanity.

So the thing you spend money on in that situation iis typically the thing that will, in your belief, most improve your short - and medium-term condition. Give them $20, they'll get alcohol. Give them $500, warm clothes and other durable QOL improvements. $7500? A car. $50,000? Long-term shelter.

Sadly, this study isn't telling us anything that psychologists and social workers didn't already know :/

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this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
346 points (97.5% liked)

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