Buying and Using
Anyone in the city can buy digital or paper vouchers from local organizations, churches, or online. Each voucher can be used at verified partners.
Proof of Concept
Compassion Voucher PoC.
Responsible giving for real needs in Berlin.
Overview
Structured giving for real needs.
Inspired by Mi-Change Voucher from U-turn Homeless Ministries in South Africa, this project explores vouchers for food, clothes, hygiene items, or transport instead of direct cash.
The approach starts with a local test area and can expand through partner organizations if results are strong.
Current status: planning how to adapt the model locally, having conversations with people.
How It Works
Transparent, practical, and dignity-preserving.
Safe and Transparent
Partner shops follow strict no-alcohol/no-drug rules, and every voucher use is logged to show how it is helping and what people need.
Support Pathways
Those giving vouchers can also encourage homeless people to access programs like counseling, skill-building, rehabilitation, or longer-term support.
Why a PoC?
Testing a smarter way to give.
Core Questions
Can giving shift from spontaneous cash to structured compassion? Can it reduce cash that fuels addiction?
Funding Needs
Funding supports communication, system development, vendor onboarding, monitoring, coordination, and staffing.
Evidence
The PoC tests whether vouchers can connect immediate help with longer-term support.
Impact Goals
From impulsive relief to thoughtful support.
This PoC aims to improve access to real needs, reduce harmful cash flow, gather insight, and create respectful interactions.