Wet Houses for Late-Stage Homeless Alcoholics
Compassionate Care Allows Late-stage Alcoholics to Drink in a Safe Place and Saves Taxpayers Money
It's time to face the truth. Many homeless alcoholics will never get sober and will eventually drink themselves to death. Where and how they die is up to society.
These alcoholics have spent years drinking, despite decades of lectures, prayers, treatments and punishments. They have been in jail, emergency rooms, and detox centers. Now they are homeless. Day by day they focus on one thing, alcohol.
They have no family, they have no money, and their friends don't want them anymore. They have rebelled against prayer, help and abstinence based programs. They are scary, smelly, dirty and a public nuisance. We try not to see them and want them to go away..
But still they drink. They know drinking will kill them along with chronic health problems, violence or freezing weather. They have burned all their bridges and alcohol has won. But they are suffering human beings and need our compassion and humanity.
Nearly 2 million people are homeless in the United States today. Many are late-stage alcoholics. A University of Washington team studying a group of 95 chronically homeless alcoholics living in Seattle found that in one year they cost tax payers more than $8 million in hospitalizations, detox treatments and incarcerations.
Some states have found a solution that is producing positive results for both drinkers and society -- Wet Houses.
Wet Houses rely on the harm reduction principle; that it is better to let late-stage alcoholics drink and live in a safe place rather than end up on the streets, in emergency rooms, jails, and detox centers at taxpayers' expense.
It costs less than $50 a night in a Wet House compared to a detox facility that costs $200.
The residents of Wet Houses have all been through treatment for their alcohol addiction numerous times and failed. To be considered for Wet House residency they are either recommended by city services or they can apply.
They receive medical care, free housing, food and clothing, and $89 a month which they usually spend on alcohol and toiletries. They can drink, but only in special areas of the Wet House. There are supervisory workers available, but no compulsory stop-drinking programs although they are available if desired.
According to the University of Washington research team on Wet Houses, costs in the Wet House study were reduced to $4 million the first year and even less the next year.
Wet Houses do save tax-payers money, but many feel society has given up on these alcoholics by giving them alcohol on the taxpayer's dime, enabling and condoning their drinking.
Wet Houses are not "Booze and Bunk Party" houses. They are more like simple convalescent homes or hospice programs. In house medical care is always available to treat chronic diseases like diabetes and heart problems.
Some residents have even cut down on their drinking. Very few stop. Many die, but they die in compassionate, safe surroundings rather than freezing under a bridge.
Wet Houses just may be the best treatment so far for homeless late-stage alcoholics. What do you think?
Sources:
http://www,cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/11/minneapolis.wethouse.alcoholics/inde...
http://www.desertnews.com/article/700134453/Wet-houses-offer-some-hope-for-...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/us/05homeless.html
These alcoholics have spent years drinking, despite decades of lectures, prayers, treatments and punishments. They have been in jail, emergency rooms, and detox centers. Now they are homeless. Day by day they focus on one thing, alcohol.
They have no family, they have no money, and their friends don't want them anymore. They have rebelled against prayer, help and abstinence based programs. They are scary, smelly, dirty and a public nuisance. We try not to see them and want them to go away..
But still they drink. They know drinking will kill them along with chronic health problems, violence or freezing weather. They have burned all their bridges and alcohol has won. But they are suffering human beings and need our compassion and humanity.
Nearly 2 million people are homeless in the United States today. Many are late-stage alcoholics. A University of Washington team studying a group of 95 chronically homeless alcoholics living in Seattle found that in one year they cost tax payers more than $8 million in hospitalizations, detox treatments and incarcerations.
Some states have found a solution that is producing positive results for both drinkers and society -- Wet Houses.
Wet Houses rely on the harm reduction principle; that it is better to let late-stage alcoholics drink and live in a safe place rather than end up on the streets, in emergency rooms, jails, and detox centers at taxpayers' expense.
It costs less than $50 a night in a Wet House compared to a detox facility that costs $200.
The residents of Wet Houses have all been through treatment for their alcohol addiction numerous times and failed. To be considered for Wet House residency they are either recommended by city services or they can apply.
They receive medical care, free housing, food and clothing, and $89 a month which they usually spend on alcohol and toiletries. They can drink, but only in special areas of the Wet House. There are supervisory workers available, but no compulsory stop-drinking programs although they are available if desired.
According to the University of Washington research team on Wet Houses, costs in the Wet House study were reduced to $4 million the first year and even less the next year.
Wet Houses do save tax-payers money, but many feel society has given up on these alcoholics by giving them alcohol on the taxpayer's dime, enabling and condoning their drinking.
Wet Houses are not "Booze and Bunk Party" houses. They are more like simple convalescent homes or hospice programs. In house medical care is always available to treat chronic diseases like diabetes and heart problems.
Some residents have even cut down on their drinking. Very few stop. Many die, but they die in compassionate, safe surroundings rather than freezing under a bridge.
Wet Houses just may be the best treatment so far for homeless late-stage alcoholics. What do you think?
Sources:
http://www,cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/11/minneapolis.wethouse.alcoholics/inde...
http://www.desertnews.com/article/700134453/Wet-houses-offer-some-hope-for-...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/05/us/05homeless.html
Published by Memmay Moore
I am a transfer to Tampa from Boston where I had many years experience in health and nutrition education. I am now enjoying a new career in writing and photography. View profile
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22 Comments
Post a CommentHadn't heard of this concept, but if an individual isn't willing to change, then this sounds like a reasonable alternative. Well done, Memmay.
I wasn't familiar with wet houses so I found this article enlightening to say the least.
I had not heard of these wet houses before, thanks.
Thanks for this great write!
Excellent article and good, but controversial concept. Rather have these individuals safe and dying with dignity. Should be shared with funding sources and publicized more. Write to Obama!
excellent article thank you
Thanks for the great article. I have not heard about these.
Thank you for this, I hadn't heard of wet houses. I think it is an amazing concept really, as long as prospective residents are properly screened to be sure that treatment options have been exhausted.
This is very good information! Thank you!!
I understand the perspective of showing care and compassion but I don't want to feel as if I'm enabling them either. It is a topic that is very thoght-provoking and serious.