We should work to improve people’s quality of life, not enable bad behaviors

We know there are many barriers for those attempting to get back on their feet and it will take time to move out and up from their life conditions to become self-sufficient and productive. We have to have patience and continually be supportive for those that are moving to a better quality of life.

The goal is to secure a quality of life that was lost due to life conditions and we need to understand, acknowledge and most importantly, provide the necessary same day services, seamless pathways and a full continuum of care to regain one’s purpose in life.

This all begins with the connectedness and understanding of the humanity of each individual, may they be one’s child, parent, loved one and especially someone living on the streets. We cannot have anyone living on the streets. And we have to realize those less fortunate than us are all worth our time and effort.

We have to work smartly as we seek solutions for those trapped in the disease of addiction, those dealing with homelessness and especially those struggling with mental health issues. We would never allow a loved one suffering with Alzheimer’s disease to be homeless and live on unsafe streets. This needs to be the same for anyone living on the streets and their life consequences.

In fact, no one should live on unsafe streets, where living conditions only get worse over time. In short, the streets are a dead end. We need to recommend and assure the use of safe shelter by using peer-to-peer outreach teams with similar lived experiences to build connected, trusting relationships.

This will take time and compassion, advancing the message by those peer-to-peer individuals that safe shelter is life saving, along with treatment, and recovery is possible.

I believe safe shelter should have two outcomes. First and foremost is to get people out of unsafe living conditions and provide for basic needs. Second, an assessment needs to be done to develop an individual action plan going forward, through that intake process.

That action plan should begin with a full intake exam, including a physical medical exam, mental health exam and/or substance use assessment. Safe shelter should only be for a limited amount of time to move the individual to the next step of their action plan along the continuum of care.

If residential or outpatient treatment for mental health or substance use is the outcome of the assessment, that treatment has to be a priority and we have to have same day access to the prescribed treatment. We have to create a seamless path, with warm hands to treatment rather than making it easier just to continue using substances, languishing in an unhealthy mental state or living on unsafe streets.

Then, the next step in the continuum of care has to be stable, supportive housing. And I believe supportive housing needs to come with some form of work. Now, that work may come in different forms for those paying their own way. Those with severe mental health issues earning their supportive housing could be consistently attending their counseling appointments, taking medication if prescribed, and following through with their treatment plan.

Others would be required to attend outpatient treatment sessions, work their program and stay clean and sober. And for others, it could very well be attending school, budgeting classes, job training and/or employment requirements. In short, the expectation in supportive housing is earned with having “skin in the game!”

I believe with one having to earn their supportive housing, they develop a sense of worth with being responsible and pursuing their personal goals. Supportive housing and work can run on parallel tracks to eventually lead one into permanent housing.

To support and assist those individuals living in unsafe living conditions and dealing with behavioral health issues, the peer-to-peer component is vital. Those peer-to-peer specialists have had lived experiences ( been there, done that! ) and talk the language to create that connected, trusted relationship to recommend and assure those suffering that, “I will be with you all the way!”

Those peer-to-peer individuals can continue to work as navigators to walk alongside those clients to assist them moving through their action plan, which may be providing transportation to appointments, collecting, filling out forms and assisting with obtaining proper identification (or a simple, heartfelt conversation).

Finally, we will never know the potential of individuals who are trapped in the disease of addiction and/or languishing in mental distress until our community provides a seamless continuum of care, same-day treatment access and reinforcing recovery. And yes, they are worth our time and effort.

Michael P. Carson serves as vice president and recovery specialist for MyHouse of Mat-Su. He also chairs the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force.

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