The winner's group: a self-help group for homeless chemically dependent persons

The homeless chemically addicted person presents many unique problems that cannot be addressed in standard treatment programs. Homeless clients are difficult to track and are not consistent in follow-up care. The health and mental health conditions found in this population are straining the resources of drug treatment programs, hospitals, the criminal justice system, and social agencies that serve the homeless (Bassuck, 1991). The Winner's Group located in an inner city soup kitchen demonstrates the adaptability and flexibility of nursing practice. The nurses exhibited creativity in developing methods to meet the diverse needs of homeless chemically addicted persons. The goals and objective that were achieved were neither successes nor failures, they were reflections of efforts to make lifestyle changes. Some of those persons responded in a very positive manner, while others continued to deteriorate. An overall desire was to instill a seed of hope and knowledge that there is always a potential for change and that recovery from chemical dependency is possible. Nurses who work with the homeless must be knowledgeable and realistic about the impact and importance of substance abuse. Nontraditional programs that meet the unique needs of a particular setting and a particular population can provide an opportunity to gain access to health care providers.