Between 2020 and 2021, an average of two unhoused people in Los Angeles died from drug overdoses every day, according to a recent Los Angeles County Public Health report. For many of our neighbors experiencing homelessness, the essential step toward stability, self-sufficiency, and permanent housing is through sobriety. To meet this need, as expressed by people with lived experience who want a substance-free environment, Los Angeles should devote substantial resources to establish sober shelters, in addition to low-barrier, harm-reduction sites.
The Housing First approach and existing resources are invaluable, but they don’t fully meet the needs of many unhoused individuals with substance use disorders. Los Angeles must also invest in providing comprehensive resources to folks battling addiction. The commitment by Mayor Karen Bass to develop programs for people who have completed a 90-day treatment program using funds from the national opioid settlement is a smart step toward this goal. More is needed.
Many shelters and temporary housing facilities do not allow drugs or alcohol on the premises, but residents can leave the property, use illicit substances, and return. Enforcement of possession and use rules varies by provider and location. Despite clients requesting substance-free housing opportunities, they are in short supply.
Sobriety is a step toward success in permanent housing or gainful employment, but no one can get sober in an environment surrounded by substance use. Sober shelters provide a safe environment with a bed, meals, access to medical care, and other services. Importantly, they provide a space for individuals to start their journey to sobriety surrounded by a community of people who share that goal.
Of the 18 facilities Hope the Mission operates, one is a sober shelter: the John E. White House of Hope, which offers a men’s alcohol and substance abuse recovery program where participants gain real-world job experience and training. During non-work hours, men participate in a 12-step, specialized, holistic, spiritual, and work therapy-based recovery programming.
Program participant, Miguel, is an example of the positive impact sober shelters can provide. Over the course of two years, Miguel benefited from these sobriety-focused resources. Comprehensive services only available at a substance-free facility helped Miguel gain the tools to overcome his addiction. He is now in stable housing and has secured a full-time job as a truck driver within Hope the Mission, contributing to the community that supported him throughout his recovery. Miguel’s success is a testament to the transformative impact of a sober shelter’s support in helping individuals achieve lasting recovery.
To increase these opportunities, Los Angeles must allocate funds specifically to sober shelters. This approach cannot be in place of a Housing First model, but in addition to it, as each journey out of homelessness is unique. Some individuals need a sober shelter that will provide them with resources to get and stay sober, which most government-funded shelters do not provide. In addition to providing funding for both the construction and operation of these facilities, we must ensure they are accessible to those who need them most, including individuals with substance abuse disorders and mental health issues.
Advocating for sober sites complements other solutions to address substance abuse and overdose among vulnerable populations. It’s recognizing the urgent need for specific resources for those who are struggling with addiction and homelessness. The journey out of homelessness cannot happen with a “one size fits all” approach. Whereas some individuals need a housing-first, low-barrier, harm-reduction model, there are others who genuinely need a sober site to overcome the issues that led to and are keeping them unhoused.
There should be “no wrong door” as we strive to meet the needs of each individual. Unfortunately, under current federal standards, requiring sobriety with mandatory testing would disqualify an agency from receiving government funds. The solution should not be “either/or” but “yes and!” If state or federal laws are barriers to developing these services, the city should seek waivers or exemptions to develop these programs which clients say they need in order to succeed.
Sober sites offer a safe space for people experiencing homelessness to avoid addiction triggers, and receive medical care and resources for recovery, all while reducing the risk of overdose and preventing deaths. By investing in the creation of more sober shelters and ensuring they are staffed by professionals, we can help break the cycle of addiction and homelessness.
Bob Blumenfield is a Los Angeles city councilmember who represents Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, Winnetka and Woodland Hills. Ken Craft is the founder and chief executive of Hope the Mission, which operates 18 shelters for the unhoused with more than 2,000 beds.