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Compassion Voucher PoC

New ways of expressing compassion through responsible, restorative giving in Berlin.

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Inspired by Mi-Change Voucher from U-turn Homeless Ministries in South Africa, this project explores a better way for anyone in Berlin to help homeless people. Instead of giving cash, people can buy vouchers that can be used for real needs like food, clothes, hygiene items, or transport. This ensures support reaches what is truly needed and avoids contributing to alcohol or drug use.

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The approach starts with testing in a specific area, to see how it works and make sure it makes a real difference locally. Homelessness is often regional, so focusing on one neighborhood helps understand the impact and test the system practically. Positive results can then be used to approach local organizations and institutes to expand the system across the city.

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The goal is to show that each person can make a difference in a responsible and meaningful way. Testing locally first allows learning what works, making adjustments if needed, and building a system that restores dignity for homeless people while encouraging the community to give thoughtfully.

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➡️ Current status:​

  • Reaching out to U-turn Homeless Ministries

  • Planning how to appropriate it to specific area

One-Page Description

The Idea

The Compassion Voucher System offers a structured, transparent, and dignity-preserving way for the public to support homeless individuals without contributing to the cash-based drug and alcohol economy

 

How It Works​

  • Buying Vouchers
    Anyone in the city can buy digital or paper vouchers from local organizations, churches, or online.

  • Using Vouchers
    Each voucher can be used at verified partners such as food stalls, laundromats, shelters, cafés, clothing stores, medical services, or transport hubs.

  • Safe and Transparent
    Partner shops follow strict no-alcohol/no-drug rules, and every voucher use is logged to show how it’s helping and what people really need.

  • Connecting with Support
    Individuals giving vouchers can also encourage homeless people to access programs like counseling, skill-building, or rehabilitation.

  • Easy to Use
    A simple app or web dashboard links donors and vendors, and QR codes make voucher use quick and easy.

 

Why a PoC?

Homelessness and addiction are complex problems often worsened by well-meaning but misdirected giving. This PoC seeks to explore questions such as:

  • Can giving shift from spontaneous cash donations to a structured and compassionate system?

  • Will vouchers reduce the flow of street cash that can fuel alcohol and drug use?

  • Can the system create clear pathways from immediate help to longer-term support like housing, rehab, or skill-building?

  • How will the system be adopted and used by individuals and vendors?

  • Can it provide enough evidence to inform future city-wide programs or policies?

 

Funding Needs

Funding will support:

  • Communication: Public awareness, printed vouchers, signage, and media campaigns.

  • System Development: Building and maintaining the voucher platform.

  • Vendor Onboarding: Recruiting, verifying, and training local partners.

  • Monitoring & Evaluation: Tracking voucher use, collecting feedback, and analyzing outcomes.

  • Coordination & Staffing: Managing daily operations and ensuring smooth implementation.

 

Impact Goals of PoC

This PoC aims to explore how compassion can be expressed in practical and meaningful ways:

  • Encouraging Responsible Giving: Individuals choose structured vouchers instead of cash.

  • Improving Access to Real Needs: Help reaches essentials like food, hygiene, and clothing.

  • Supporting Addiction Reduction: Cash flow into alcohol and drug use is reduced.

  • Gathering Insight: Learning how giving patterns and services can be improved.

  • Restoring Dignity: Creating respectful, empowering interactions for homeless people.

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Why Support This?

This initiative doesn’t aim to “solve homelessness overnight,” but it reshapes how people give — from impulsive relief to thoughtful, responsible support.

 

Inspired by the U-turn Homeless Ministries model, which has shown that vouchers:

  • Reduce harmful cash exchange on the streets,

  • Strengthen local businesses, and

  • Connect homeless individuals to longer-term recovery programs,


the Compassion Voucher System tests this idea in a European urban context.

Supporting this PoC helps:

  • Promote a smarter, more compassionate way to give

  • Reduce the cash-driven addiction economy

  • Restore dignity for homeless people

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