When Laura Burns faced eviction from her flat in Didcot because her landlord was selling, she was trapped between energy debts and removal costs that left her $750 short of securing new housing for herself and her young son. In desperation, she reached out to Greater Change, a charity that does something most people consider impossible—they give money directly to people in crisis with almost no strings attached. The $750 arrived almost instantly, lifting a crushing weight of stress and fear that had been consuming Laura’s life.
Greater Change has paid out $875,000 to 403 people this year alone, believing that giving people dignity and choice is more powerful than traditional charity approaches that often feel like things being done to people rather than with them. Critics worry about people misusing the money for drugs or alcohol, but research from similar programs in Canada and the UK shows the opposite, people consistently make responsible choices when trusted with direct financial help. The charity reports that 86% of people they’ve supported have moved into stable housing, with nearly half finding employment, proving that sometimes the most radical solution is also the most effective one. Laura’s story perfectly illustrates this success. Since receiving her grant, she’s found a new home, landed a job, and is about to get married, transforming her life with what she calls “a life-saving amount of money” that gave her the fresh start she needed.