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San Antonio, TX (2026-01-19) – Direct monthly cash assistance combined with financial mentoring significantly improved the financial and mental well-being of residents in San Antonio’s poorest neighborhoods, according to a new study.
A two-year, $7 million randomized clinical trial found that providing both cash and coaching-dubbed “CashPlus”-led to increased savings, reduced stress, and improved health outcomes among participants.
- A study of nearly 600 San Antonio residents found that combining cash assistance with financial coaching was more effective than either intervention alone.
- Participants receiving “CashPlus” experienced decreases in depressive symptoms and increases in annual health checkups.
- The study highlights the potential of direct cash assistance as a tool to address systemic poverty and improve economic mobility.
- Researchers found that simply providing cash assistance,while helpful,was most effective when paired with guidance on budgeting and financial literacy.
The study,officially known as the GOALS (Generating Opportunities for Achieving Lasting Success) initiative,involved nearly 600 participants from 13 of Bexar County’s lowest-income ZIP codes,aged 18 to 60. researchers previewed the results on Thursday, after launching the trial in 2022.
participants were divided into four groups: those receiving $500 monthly prepaid debit cards with no restrictions, those receiving $500 monthly with financial coaching, those receiving $1,000 monthly with no restrictions, and a control group receiving no assistance.
The findings offer compelling evidence that direct cash assistance, when coupled with financial literacy support, can be a powerful tool for poverty alleviation. while unconditional cash transfers have gained traction in recent years, this study provides nuanced data on the benefits of pairing such assistance with targeted coaching. This approach addresses not only immediate financial needs but also equips individuals with the skills to build long-term financial stability.
Cecilia Ballí, a cultural anthropologist and researcher who conducted interviews with participants, emphasized the mental toll of financial insecurity. “Having to make these decisions all the time and balance a budget, [not having enough] income to meet those basic needs takes a lot of mental stress and focus and leaves little room for longer-term planning and goal setting,” she said. “We heard about how exhausting it is indeed to be constantly on the search for resources.”
Vanessa Tobares, director of strategy and impact at Methodist Health Ministries (MHM), acknowledged that structural barriers remain. “They might move out of their parents home, but now they have higher housing costs, now they lost their child care,” she said. “Those are issues that they themselves cannot manage or change.So when we think about improving economic mobility, we have to continue thinking about both individual assistance … and changing policy and systems.”
MHM partnered with UT San antonio’s College for Health, Community and Policy, Family Service, Empower House SA, and boston-based nonprofit Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath
