The London homeless charity Broadway tried giving out money for a while. After a year, it was reported (independently) to have been a success, and in 2010 the E

The London homeless charity Broadway tried giving out money for a while. After a year, it was reported (independently) to have been a success, and in 2010 the Economist ran a feature on it. The idea was that you ask people what would most change their lives. One wanted a caravan to live in. Another wanted a pair of new trainers and a television. I'm unable to detect from Broadway's website whether or not they're still running this scheme. The idea has merit. Poverty is a trap, and you need a chunk of money just to get normal life running. You can't type a CV and check your email responses from a doorway. Let alone think clearly. The Fabians floated the idea way back. E M Forster: "Give them a chance. Give them money. Don't dole them out poetry-books and railway-tickets like babies. Give them the wherewithal to buy these things. When your socialism comes it may be different, and we may think in terms of commodities instead of cash. Till it comes give people cash, for it is the warp of civilisation, whatever the woof may be. The imagination ought to play upon money and realise it vividly, for it's the -- the second most important thing in the world. It is so sluffed over and hushed up, there is so little clear thinking -- oh political economy, of course, but so few of us think clearly about our own private incomes, and admit that independent thoughts are in nine cases out of ten the result of independent means. Money: give Mr Bast money, and don't bother about his ideals. He'll pick those up for himself".