Business ProfileforAlternative Living Centers

I have been in the ********** ALC and have also been in the ***********,** locations obviously because of my addiction problems. I am questioning the way they run a supposed structured living program, the first thing that their concerned with is making sure that you get on the Snap food program as they use the client's cards to buy the prgm's food. They do not offer you the option of having your card back so that if you want to get something for yourself you have $10 or $15.******* it for something you may like. That is not my main concern with the program, it's that their structured program leaves a person who has had very bad drug addiction's to be on the street by themselves all day long. If you are recovering it makes no sense to let him do as they please on the street, and I'm talking 4-5 hours at a time. As much as I tried to stay away from the people that I had done drugs with, you can't help but to run in to someone. I am 31 years old,no job,no license and know nothing but the life I had. It's a program that is set up for failure. The structure is not what it is made out to be, I admit that I am not strong, and have a very ***************, as far as I can tell they don't seem to care as much about the person as they do about doing their own thing.

Within ALC's goal to assist our residential clients in both achieving financial independence and learning how to be a part of a positive community, securing everyone's cards in the initial phase of our program is the optimal way both to assure that every client contributes only their respective portion to the community meals and also provides proper support in practicing meeting financial obligations before progressing to a point where they will inevitably need to do so independently.  All clients have the ability to obtain their cards at any time to make independent purchases if they have the funds to do so,

Regarding our sign out policy, clients can sign out and leave campus for (4) hours at a time to attend to their personal needs (doctor's appointments, time with family, visits with children, leisure activity, etc.), but nowhere in our policy is it mandated that they do so.  Our clients are expected to attend (7) community recovery meetings a week and, during the evening hours, those meetings not within walking distance are accessed by a company van driven by our direct care staff.  We absolutely encourage our residents to make positive connections in the community, spend time at the local recovery centers in both ********** and ****************, and our residential, case management, and clinical staff are constantly brainstorming ways to create healthy connections and positive outlets in which our residents can engage in order to combat some of the most common struggles of early recovery: boredom and complacency.  However, the statement that our clients are allowed to "do as they please on the street," is simply false.

Our policies, structure, and the level of freedom within our model are thoroughly discussed at the times of interview, residential intake, clinical intake, and at every weekly house meeting at which client attendance is mandatory.  What may not have worked for one individual has worked for hundreds and hundreds of clients.  We encourage anyone who has not found their footing within our structure to explore other options, perhaps more tailored to their needs, and we in fact will assist with those referrals when asked to do so.