Think Of Michael

FOR INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF INPATIENT CARE FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND WANTING TO MAINTAIN THEIR SOBRIETY, TWO OF THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. MANY DON'T WANT TO, NOR SHOULD THEY RETURN TO THE HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY LIVED PRIOR TO THEIR TREATMENT. AND IN MOST CASES, THEY CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING UNTIL THEY ARE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. SOBER HOMES ARE THEIR BEST OPTION. HOWEVER, THE COST OF SOBER HOMES IS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE. THE ORGANIZATION HAS BUILT A NETWORK OF CLINICIANS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUDICIARY TO HELP IDENTIFY THOSE IN NEED. THE ORGANIZATION TYPICALLY PAYS THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT AT A SOBER HOME. THAT MONTH OF FREE RENT PROVIDES THE INDIVIDUAL THE TIME TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND GENERATE THE INCOME NECESSARY FOR THEM TO PAY THE RENT ON THEIR OWN. THE SOBER HOME PROVIDES THEM WITH THE STRUCTURE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THEM TO SUCCEED. CALENDAR YEAR 2021 WAS VERY MUCH IMPACTED BY THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. CAPACITY AT THE HOMES WERE DRASTICALLY REDUCED AND THE DEMAND FOR SUBSIDIES WAS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. WHILE THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED SUBSIDIES TO 39 APPLICANTS, THERE IS NO WAY TO MEASURE SUCCESS IN THE TRADITIONAL DATA DRIVEN APPROACH. ONCE THEY LEAVE THE SOBER HOME, WE LOSE CONTACT WITH THEM. RELAPSE IF FAIRLY COMMON. OUR "ACCOMPLISHMENT" IS PROVIDING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY. OUR NIGHT OF HOPE IS HELD ON THE TOWN COMMON IN LYNNFIELD, MA. IT ATTRACTS 0N AVERAGE 500 PEOPLE. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE WELL REPRESENTED. WE HAVE A SHORT MARCH FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PROCEED TO THE TOWN COMMON. WE HAVE TWO MAIN SPEAKERS. ONE MORE TARGETING THE PARENTS AND THE OTHER TARGETING THE YOUNGSTERS. IT'S BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY AND HAS BEEN THE CATALYST FOR OPEN DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DISEASE.