Alcohol-free living centers: hope for homeless alcoholics

It is difficult for an alcoholic individual to maintain sobriety without a place to live. Alcohol-free living centers provide a low-rent, alcohol-free environment for homeless people recovering from alcoholism. In this article, the authors describe such a living center in Portland, Oregon and its effectiveness. Two general predictions guided this study: (1) clients would use fewer sobering amd detoxification services after leaving the alcohol-free living center than before entering treatment and (2) clients who left the alcohol-free living center through successful termination would use fewer sobering and detoxification services after leaving than those clients who left the center for reasons other than successful termination. Data were collected on 80 clients whose average length of stay in the living center was 89 days. The results of the study showed that clients who completed the program were admitted less often to both sobering services and short-term detoxification. These reductions occurred whether or not the clients successfully completed a treatment plan while living at the center. By the end of the program, there were also substantial client changes in employment status, income, and perceived employability. The indications of effectiveness and the low cost make the alcohol-free living center a critical component in rehabilitation for homeless people who are alcoholic.