Problem addressed
In the Czech Republic, the number of people experiencing homelessness has been steadily increasing.
According to national estimates, over 23,000 people are without stable housing, and more than 160,000 are at immediate risk of losing their home due to poverty, rising rents, and inadequate housing support. Existing systems are often conditional, fragmented, and overly bureaucratic. Many individuals remain trapped in a cycle of temporary shelter, administrative barriers, and limited opportunities for real change. Social workers are overstretched, and people in need are often treated with suspicion rather than trust. New Leaf Czechia addresses this by testing whether unconditional financial support—combined with time-rich, trust-based social work—can break this cycle, restore individual agency, and lead to more stable and dignified housing outcomes.
Innovative solution
New Leaf Czechia was inspired by the New Leaf Project in Canada, implemented by the non-profit organisation Foundations for Social Change in partnership with the University of British Columbia. The Canadian pilot provided unconditional cash transfers to people experiencing homelessness and showed promising outcomes in housing stability, food security, and well-being. This evidence-based approach, combined with growing interest in trust-based interventions, served as the foundation for adapting the model to the Czech context, while adding a strong component of exclusive social work as a key innovation.
New Leaf Czechia introduces a bold combination of two underused approaches in Central Europe: unconditional cash transfers and exclusive, relationship-based social work. Instead of controlling behaviour through conditional aid, the project invests trust in people by giving them a one-time payment of CZK 100,000 (approx. EUR 4,000) with no strings attached. This is paired with consistent support from a social worker who is not burdened by high caseloads or bureaucracy.
The innovation lies in transferring decision-making power to the individual, treating financial insecurity as a key barrier—not a moral failing—and recognising the value of human connection in social work. The project is rigorously evaluated through a randomised controlled trial (RCT), combining experimental research with frontline practice.
By shifting both who gets to decide and how support is delivered, New Leaf Czechia challenges mainstream homelessness responses and opens space for more humane, effective, and scalable solutions.
Key results and benefits
New Leaf Czechia is already delivering concrete early results. In the pilot phase, participants who received the unconditional CZK 100,000 transfer reported significantly reduced financial stress, improved food security, and greater ability to plan for the future. Many used the funds to secure housing, or meet urgent health and work-related needs.
Qualitative insights show that exclusive, time-rich social work—free from high caseloads and administrative burden—builds deeper trust, enables earlier disclosure of needs, and accelerates progress toward individual goals. Social workers report higher job satisfaction when bureaucracy is reduced.
A preliminary cost-benefit analysis indicates that even partial housing stability leads to lower use of emergency shelters and health services, with a projected return exceeding the original investment within one year.
The ongoing RCT is tracking outcomes in housing, mental health, and financial well-being over 12 months. While full results are pending, early evidence supports the transformative impact of combining unconditional financial support with human-centred social work.
At a systemic level, the project contributes a scalable, low-barrier model and strong evidence to inform social policy. Widespread media coverage has helped spark public debate and shift narratives around homelessness and social protection.
Potential for mainstreaming
New Leaf Czechia offers a simple yet powerful model with strong potential for mainstreaming across different social systems. The unconditional cash transfer is a flexible, low-cost tool that can be scaled nationally or adapted for use in other contexts - such as homelessness prevention, support for care leavers, or crisis response. Its effectiveness does not rely on complex infrastructure, but on trust in people’s ability to make decisions.
The second pillar - exclusive, relationship-based social work - offers a compelling alternative to overstretched, transactional models. Embedding this approach in existing services would require structural shifts in caseloads, funding, and mindset, but the model is replicable and shows promise for improving outcomes in hard-to-reach populations.
The project’s evidence-based design and strong media presence increase its policy relevance and public legitimacy. If proven effective, New Leaf Czechia can inform systemic changes in how social support is delivered - moving from control and conditionality toward autonomy, dignity, and person-centred approach.
