The Denver Basic Income Project

The Denver Basic Income Project | By Gwen Battis

“When you build a house, you have to start with the foundation. You can’t start with the walls and then bring in a

foundation. So that’s what the DBIP program has done for me—it’s giving me a strong, sturdy

foundation to be successful and to be productive.” (DBIP Participant)

The Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) is studying the impact of providing direct cash assistance to unhoused people living in Denver. A direct cash transfer system is a way to reduce wealth inequality and improve human thriving. Our approach and decision-making is centered by the input from those with lived experience, those on the frontlines, and those currently experiencing homelessness. With more than 32,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in Denver Metro alone, the learnings from this program will be invaluable in informing the future strategies and policies that serve this community.

DBIP conducted two pilots in August 2021 and July 2022 to test the program design and assumptions. Using the learnings from those studies, we launched the full program in November 2022 and participants began receiving payments thereafter.

DBIP is distributing cash payments to 807 individuals/families experiencing homelessness with dignity and speed, and with research methods implemented to analyze the project’s impact. We want to learn and identify which approach has the greatest impact including acquiring stable housing, overall well-being, and economic security.

Participants were placed randomly into one of three groups:

  • Group A participants will receive 12 monthly cash payments of $1,000 for a total of $12,000 over 12 months.
  • Group B participants received an initial direct cash payment of $6,500 and will receive 11 monthly payments of $500 for a total of $12,000 over 12 months.
  • Group C participants will receive 12 monthly cash payments of $50 for a total of $600 over 12 months.

In addition to the 807 individuals enrolled in the main program, 39 individuals enrolled in the earlier pilot cohorts also received direct cash assistance.

While participation in the project’s research component is not mandatory, nearly 93% of program participants opted to join the study. This exceptionally high opt-in rate is an initial indication that the trust placed in participants to make this choice and to decide how to use their cash leads to reciprocal trust and more opportunity for positive engagement. The research activities include surveys every six months and short bi-weekly text surveys that will ask about health and well-being, housing stability, and financial well-being. Participants are also invited to complete interviews to share their experience with DBIP.

The Denver Basic Income Project’s participant pool is designed to mirror the demographics of those that experience homelessness in Denver and reflects the project’s mission of having an equity-centered approach to outreach and selection.

Of the 807 participants,

  • 67.3% identify as people of color, with the majority identifying as Black (25.77%) and Latinx (23.3%), followed by multi-racial (7.81%), American Indian/Alaska Native (4.71%).
  • Nearly half of the cohort identify as a woman, non-binary, transgender, or gender non-conforming individual (49.94%).
  • Nearly a quarter (22.6%) identify as a family household, with at least one dependent under 18.
  • Nearly half of the cohort have some type of disability (49.3%).

The participant demographics allow the Denver Basic Income Project findings to be generalizable to inform policy and programming for the unhoused community in Denver, and capture how other forms of social marginalization intersect with experiences of homelessness.

The Denver Basic Income Project has gained national attention and is being watched by other cities across the United States as a potential model for addressing homelessness and economic inequality. The findings of the Denver Basic Income Project are likely to inform and shape policy decisions made by the new leadership in Denver, particularly regarding issues of homelessness and economic justice. Cash is increasingly seen as the gold standard by which all social impact programs should be evaluated, as it provides people with the autonomy to make decisions that are best suited to their individual needs and circumstances.

For additional information about Denver Basic Income Project, please visit denverbasicincomeproject.org and direct media inquiries to abby@allinstrategic.com.

Gwen Battis is the Program Manager of the Denver Basic Income Project.