The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59403

William N. Elwood, PhD and Deb Barsell, MSW, CAP. Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys, Inc., 3355 Donald Avenue, Key West, FL 33040-4488, 305/295-9929, wnelwood@earthlink.net

Homeless substance abusers face multiple barriers to treatment including lack of funding, greater physical and psychiatric health needs than those with homes, a lack of social skills, and a lack of identification and other personal papers. Key West and Monroe County, Florida, compounds those barriers given it has the highest cost of living in the state and a "living wage" of $16.38 per hour. These problems are addressed in Safeport, a residential treatment program for homeless drug users and public housing tenants in danger of eviction due to drug-related problems. Locating treatment services within public housing places the costs for room and board beyond the purview of the treatment provider and, thus, facilitates extended treatment to people who most require, yet can least afford, it. Financing the treatment program through multiple funding streams helps ensure its survival; at present, the program is supported financially by HUD, CSAT, DOJ, Florida Department of Children and Families, the Monroe County (FL) Sheriff's Office, Medicaid, private health insurance coverage, and fees-for-services. Residential treatment within a public housing project is not a natural or easy undertaking. It requires sincere cooperation among treatment provider, housing authority, federal agencies, and state licensing bureaus. The mutual understandings of treatment protocols and public housing policies also are required. This presentation details the relationship between the housing authority and the treatment provider, the four-phase treatment curriculum (licensed, respectively, as residential, day, outpatient, and aftercare), the evaluation plan and preliminary results.

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the unique circumstances surrounding the provision of substance abuse treatment in public housing. To recognize the development and management of multiple funding streams to ensure the viability of such programs. To describe the working relationship among community-based organizations involved in providing these services.

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Substance Abuse Treatment

Related Web page: www.gcmk.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys, Inc.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: The Guidance Clinic of the Middle Keys employs me as the evaluator of the Safeport program.