when someone is hungry, you give them food. When someone is living in poverty, you give them money
It seems completely logical: when someone is hungry, you give them food, when someone is living in poverty, you give them money. And yet, as soon as we talk about 'just giving money', Pavlov seems to strike hard with immediate reactions like "it's their own fault", "then they should just work for that money", "but those people can't handle money at all". But what if we just give people money?
Not having enough money to buy a gift for a friend's birthday, or not having money for appropriate children's clothing may seem like small things, but the effects of these situations are anything but. Such situations contribute to social exclusion, reduced self-confidence in children and cause stress for parents. For years, organizations have focused on various solutions to help people in poverty, such as social support and debt counseling. But it's not enough - and it never will be. Because we are simply not addressing the main problem. People in poverty simply lack enough money to get by. Providing a monthly financial contribution can alleviate this stress and give parents more breathing space to deal with other issues that need attention. This may also potentially prevent larger problems in families in the long run. But: is that really so?
Giving money is not allowed
Giving money to people living in poverty is not allowed. You might remember the woman who received groceries from her mother and was fined for it. According to the Participation Act, you are not allowed to receive anything if you receive benefits: no groceries, birthday money or money for public transport. The government assumes that the lower the income, the sooner people will return to work. However, a low income leads to problems, not solutions.
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Or is it?
Kansfonds started an initiative where money is indeed given (‘Gewoon geld geven’, which translates to ‘Just Giving Money’). In Amsterdam, Tilburg, and Zaanstad, a few hundred families living in poverty will receive an extra 150 euros per month for two years. They decide themselves how to spend this money, because they know best what the family needs. A solution that is simple and innovative and based on a positive view of people.
Does it work, just giving money?
In the Netherlands, the effects of unconditionally giving money on people's well-being have never been investigated before, even though this issue is very relevant here too. After all, lack of money is the cause of many problems faced by people with low incomes, and the stress associated with it can quickly exacerbate emerging problems. Abroad, more systematic research has been done on providing extra financial resources. The outcomes are promising. Think of less stress, less malnutrition, better school performance, increased chances of finding work, and reduction of social exclusion.
The context in which foreign research has taken place differs greatly from the Netherlands and cannot simply be applied. For instance, because the Dutch system of laws and regulations is different. That requires adapting ‘Just Giving Money’ to fit the Dutch context.
New perspective on poverty
‘Just Giving Money’ is not only the goal, but also a means to drive a new perspective on the poverty issue. One that is based on livelihood, a positive view on humanity and trust. In order to conduct the debate on real solutions in a well-founded manner, the poverty interventions research group at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences has joined the program as an independent research party. They will examine the effect of a multi-year unconditional financial contribution on the well-being of families. This research will also address questions about the state of trust in government agencies and whether the intervention affects the willingness to engage in the workforce, and actual labor participation.