Vivienda de transición

La vivienda de transición se refiere a cualquier tipo de situación de vivienda transitoria. El propósito principal de los entornos de vivienda de transición es temporal. Las instalaciones de vivienda de transición suelen ofrecer alojamiento a bajo costo. Los residentes de vivienda de transición que atienden a personas que se recuperan de dificultades económicas a menudo pasan de un albergue a una situación de vivienda menos hacinada. La vivienda de transición puede o no tener otros elementos comunes entre los residentes. Proporciona apoyo profesional, educación y un entorno de vida estable. Los tipos comunes de vivienda de transición incluyen la transición desde la cárcel o prisión, un centro de tratamiento de adicciones o un centro de salud mental. También pueden estar dirigidas a personas sin hogar, especialmente jóvenes. La vivienda de transición es proporcionada por muchas organizaciones privadas y sin fines de lucro reconocidas, por el gobierno, iglesias y otras organizaciones benéficas.

Las viviendas de transición destinadas a personas en recuperación de adicciones suelen denominarse residencias de sobriedad, casas de transición o centros de recuperación. Si bien tradicionalmente se conocían como centros de transición para personas recién salidas de prisión, este tipo de programa se suele denominar casa de transición. Actualmente, las viviendas de transición son comunes para personas que salen de programas de tratamiento residencial o de internamiento de treinta días y que necesitan terapia intensiva continua mientras trabajan a tiempo parcial, comienzan a estudiar o se reincorporan a la escuela y llevan una vida en recuperación. Existen muchos programas excelentes de viviendas de transición donde las personas con adicciones y problemas de salud mental pueden continuar su recuperación a largo plazo.

El inicio más serio de la vida transitoria se produjo en 1878 a través de la enseñanza de la " santidad " de William Booth y su esposa Catherine, quienes fundaron la Misión Cristiana de Whitechapel en el East End de Londres para ayudar a alimentar y dar cobijo a los pobres. La misión se reorganizó siguiendo líneas militares, con los predicadores conocidos como oficiales y Booth como general. Posteriormente, el grupo pasó a ser conocido como el Ejército de Salvación . ^{[ 1 ]}

The birthing of the "half-way" house concept became popular during the United States Great Depression which began in 1929. With an enormous increase in the use of alcohol, and introduction of opiates from the Far East and Asiatic countries, society in general began to resent the presence of these "drunks" (as they called them) in public. This protest, along with the efforts of the women's suffrage, and like groups, sparked the prohibition by the Federal Government on any alcoholic production, distribution, use or sale. Oddly enough drug use was not a consideration, as a matter of fact it was a largely accepted social practice that permitted use of such drugs as opium and heroin. This "drunks protest" also caused the development of an unofficial industry of half-shod, shanty structures for the intoxicated (see drunkenness) that were given the name "flophouses" where the "proprietor" would charge inflated prices for use of squalor spaces or rooms to allow the renter to find sobriety. This extortion concept of "sobering-up" continued until post World War II.

In 1934 a man known as Bill W.(William Griffith Wilson, 1895–1971), admitted himself to a hospital for help with his drinking problem. He then became associated with the Oxford Group and shortly after that met Dr. Bob Smith (doctor) (Robert Holbrook Smith, M.D, 1879–1950) who too was a member of the Oxford Group. Together they formed the organization known as Alcoholics Anonymous with its concepts set on the Spiritual matters and on scripture with basic program design from the Oxford Group. This program was designed to help the individual "admit" and "act" to their drinking problem. With group support and selection of an individual "Recovery Sponsor" one might come to sobriety. The two designed the A.A. Big Book to provide "standards" for recovery. Through it one can establish a path to walk on toward finding God and sobriety. The only major revision made to the original text is that the individual must come to an understanding of God, as they know Him, so as to develop the spiritual relationship and surrender to His will. Within the Big Book are personal stories and testimonies of a variety of personalities and social standings to show that the disease is not a respecter of persons, status, gender, or race/ethnicity.

Bill W. would bring "drunks" to his own home and help them sober up. Dr. Bob would use a strong spiritual approach through hospital admissions. The A.A."12 step program" was (and is) the standard for not only Alcohol recovery groups and meetings but it began to gain acceptance in the medical and mental health fields and today other addiction programs such as Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous and many other groups have adopted the 12 Step approach. The standards established by the early AA members are still the foundation of many transitional living and other addiction recovery groups.^[2][3]

The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act provides a grant to the transitional living program, as well as the basic center program, for emergency shelter, and the street outreach program, which focuses on informing youth about resources and services.^[4] The program focuses on providing long-term stable living conditions to help youth prepare for independent lives.^[5]

Going back to the post World War II era, the returning military personnel from Europe and Asia were faced with many problems and unemployment was one of the major issues. With social readjustment and dramatic technology changes many of the G.I.'s could not adjust and many found relief through alcohol consumption that lead to abuse. However, with the gratitude and appreciation of society for the service provided to protect the nation there was the development of a "different view" on alcoholism as many employers found their best workers had "drinking problems." The provisions for "employee care" increased, mainly through the manufacturing industry and union efforts, for better insurance coverage and medical care for the employees and their families.

The main thrust of today's transitional living found a firm footing in the late 1960s. The philosophy then was to have a "central" location that could provide adequate, safe, and supportive housing for, mainly, the alcoholic.

As the progression of illegal drug use in the 1980s increased many traditional houses that were designed for alcohol issues found that they were receiving more and more "dual use" (drug and alcohol) clients. As the medical community became more acutely aware of the problem the Government (both Local and Federal), especially the Department of Health and Human Services, saw that dramatic intervention and support had to be made.

A principios de la década de 1990, la investigación y las estadísticas comenzaron a utilizarse ampliamente. Los resultados mostraron que si los programas de vivienda transitoria ampliaban su programa básico para incluir información y habilidades de educación social, así como temas de recuperación, las recaídas en el consumo de alcohol y/o drogas se reducirían considerablemente. Muchas de las instalaciones más grandes, en su mayoría financiadas por la industria, revisaron sus programas de recuperación y comprobaron que, efectivamente, esto aumentaba la productividad y reducía significativamente el consumo y el abuso de drogas y alcohol, además de lograr una reducción muy significativa de las recaídas. Los efectos empresariales y sociales mejoraron notablemente, y los principales financiadores, a través de subvenciones y fundaciones, lo reconocieron cada vez más. Incluso en 1995, aproximadamente el 83 % de las casas de transición que solicitaban financiación la recibían de subvenciones y donaciones privadas o gubernamentales.

Tras los atentados del 11 de septiembre y otras catástrofes naturales y humanas, la comunidad filantrópica, como es lógico, ha redirigido la mayor parte de sus fondos hacia la ayuda humanitaria a nivel nacional e internacional. Esto ha tenido un impacto muy negativo en la mayoría de las organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro de servicios sociales y ha provocado el cierre de miles de pequeños programas de vivienda transitoria que contribuían positivamente a su comunidad. Este vacío en la filantropía no solo es evidente en el ámbito de las fundaciones y las subvenciones, sino también en los gobiernos locales, las iglesias cristianas y la ciudadanía en general.

La perspectiva social sobre los programas de vivienda transitoria se ha reducido, más recientemente, a los problemas domésticos como el maltrato a mujeres o cónyuges y el maltrato y abandono infantil. Esto se debe principalmente al uso "epidémico" de "drogas callejeras", que van desde el crack y la metanfetamina producidos en "laboratorios caseros" hasta el uso de drogas para citas y con fines estéticos, y a la idea errónea de que "no hay esperanza" para quienes consumen estas drogas. Si bien es cierto que estas drogas de fabricación reciente tienen una tasa de adicción mucho mayor que las de la era de la "paz" de la década de 1960, también debería entenderse que esto debería ser motivo para programas de rehabilitación más intensivos y la creación de mejores mecanismos judiciales a través de tribunales de drogas ^{[ 6 ]} y programas de desvío legal.

El progreso, no la perfección, significa que, al igual que con las enfermedades, probablemente nunca habrá una cura para la drogadicción, pero, como una enfermedad, las adicciones a las drogas y al alcohol pueden tratarse. El progreso reside en el programa espiritual y de recuperación de cada persona y conducirá a la perfección en la resistencia, la estabilidad, la paciencia, la comprensión y, lo más importante, la sobriedad.

There are two major categories of transitional living programs. One is the "shelter" concept that provides the basic needs for nutrition, comfort, and sleeping space that may also provide a Spiritual message or is regulated by specific founding organizational requirement that are “target” specific such as the homeless, this type of living program is usually a very short term stay. Another shelter concept provides all of the above with the addition of security and life skill helps such as a women's shelter that has in place specific provisions for issues concerning children, legal and protective services. These programs are usually very flexible on “stay” time as each case is treated independently. The Shelter concept is usually funded by outside sources and do not require the resident to pay a fee or charge for services offered. The second living category is “rehabilitation” centers that have a program policy and procedure for issues that are “specific” in nature (i.e. addiction recovery, diet and food issues, etc.). The Rehabilitation programs involve services that are established to meet the needs of the particular issues of the admission. Some social issues can fall on the fence line between a “shelter” need and a “rehabilitation” need (i.e. the example given in the case of battered women).

In essence most transitional living programs that range from battered women to addiction recovery have the same operational and development standards.

The majority of transitional living centers are self-supporting. In other words, they have no affiliation or obligation to outside sources other than the required reporting of financial and operational record maintenance to various government or grant giving organizations. With the self-support status the living center usually charges a nominal rent or fee (some are set on sliding fee scales, some are established with monthly rates and yet others find support finances for each particular individual) that will afford the applicant a safe, clean, secure environment with balanced meals and a specific "care plan" to help bridge learning and application towards their recovery that is geared for their purpose and program.

Most living centers, regardless of their specific service, have in their program areas that will help better support the person through their specific needs be it from recovery or protection. Some of these areas are educational advancement opportunities, job skills training opportunities, "life skills" workshops and classes, and specific classes or meeting that are directly associated to their issue. The weekly or monthly dollar value "rent" varies on venue, location, program purpose, design, intensity and provision, plus any professional involvement or assistance requirements. Transitional living stays or residency can vary from very short term to extended time stays (1–2 days to up to 2, and in some cases, 3 years). Obligatory financial issues such as rent, transportation, and personal care items are the responsibility of the individual resident even though several programs may provide all or part of the above through donation or designated grants funding.

A "resident" could mean an individual or family depending on the program design. This resident is self-admitted or via family/friends, referral (i.e. another transitional center), or court order. Most programs have admission requirements and an "entry" intake instrument. For example, an alcohol and/or drug living center may administer a "standards" tool known as the A.S.I. (Addiction Severity Index) that measures and presents domestic, addiction, and social understandings and personal "life" issues. The majority of living centers use their admissions intake information received from the client to aid them in the design of a "personal" or "individual" Care Plan for that particular client or family. The resident agrees to abide by the living standards of the living center, which is verified through a binding legal rental agreement or standard of acceptance agreement between the center and the individual.

Depending on availability of personnel, materials, and finances a transitional center may offer its residents gratis workshops in money management, child care, domestic skills such as cooking and housekeeping, job skills classes, self-advocacy, crises intervention, social skills and to provide social and cultural events.

Finally, the intent of the transitional living center is to provide a place where the person can re-establish their self-worth, re-discover their place in society, and find compassion and love through Spiritual discovery and a genuine understanding of personal relationships. The bulk of the centers try to maintain a "home" atmosphere where a family type relationship is developed between the residents, staff, and volunteers. The transitional living centers of today go far above and beyond the term "Half-Way" in proving that half-way is not good enough and "complete" is the goal to strive for.

• Academic House, Transitional homes for men with an emphasis on learning to stay clean and sober through education and 12 step programs founded in the AA tradition, Austin, Texas
• Haven Place, A Women's Transitional Living Center in Houston, Texas
• Stephanie Brown Treating the Alcoholic; a developmental model of recovery
• Another Way TLP, Henniker, New Hampshire
• Treatment center and transitional housing program for men and women