Bush Plan For Drug Free Public Housing Is Off Base

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Bush Plan For Drug Free Public Housing Plan Is Off Base 010721

Ananda Shorey of the Associated Press reported on July 16, 2001 that President Bush plans to eliminate funding for a program that has been proven to rid housing projects of drugs and crime.  

The drug elimination program, run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides $310 million in  grants to municipal housing authorities for a variety of programs to help improve the lives of the housing projects' poor residents.  The current program is based upon a Public Health Model that addresses a wide array of factors that contribute to drug use and crime in public housing projects.  The program provides tenants with a base of support services aimed at reducing drug-dealing, crime and addiction in their neighborhoods.  

The grant money is used to educate, prevent and treat drug addicts; hire security personnel and investigators; buy security devices, such as cameras and fences; and improve security and drug prevention programs.  One of the goals is to help people to get off and stay off of drugs by providing group and individual counseling sessions that are often conducted addiction counselors, many of whom are recovering addicts.  Some of the drug-elimination money is used to pay for a supplemental security force of residents. Participants get a $50 rent credit after they spend 32 hours checking buildings for suspicious behavior and hazardous conditions. 

President Bush argues that the program does not work and that there are better ways to make public housing safer and help people straighten out their lives. .  He prefers to see an increased focus upon evictions, drug enforcement with increased policing, and the use of faith-based programs to drug counseling.  

Here we see the misuse of the Faith-based initiative in action.  Programs that offer drug counseling provided by properly trained and credentialed counselors in licensed programs is being replaced by a vague expectation that faith-based programs using poorly trained volunteers exempt from all quality standards and accountability will be able to do the job just as well.

On the Net: 
Department of Housing and Urban Development: http://www.hud.gov/ 
Housing Opportunities Commission: http://www.hocweb.org 
National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials: http://www.nahro.org   
Public Housing Authorities Directors Association: http://www.phada.org/pp-phdep.html  

About the Author

Terence T. Gorski is internationally recognized for his contributions to Relapse Prevention Therapy. The scope of his work, however, extends far beyond this. A skilled cognitive behavioral therapist with extensive training in experiential therapies, Gorski has broad-based experience and expertise in the chemical dependency, behavioral health, and criminal justice fields.

To make his ideas and methods more available, Gorski opened The CENAPS Corporation, a private training and consultation firm of founded in 1982.  CENAPS is committed to providing the most advanced training and consultation in the chemical dependency and behavioral health fields.

Gorski has also developed skills training workshops and a series of low-cost book, workbooks, pamphlets, audio and videotapes. He also works with a team of trainers and consultants who can assist individuals and programs to utilize his ideas and methods.
Terry Gorski is available for personal and program consultation, lecturing, and clinical skills training workshops. He also routinely schedules workshops, executive briefings, and personal growth experiences for clinicians, program managers, and policymakers.

Mr. Gorski holds a B.A. degree in psychology and sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and an M.A. degree from Webster's College in St. Louis, Missouri.  He is a Senior Certified Addiction Counselor In Illinois.  He is a prolific author who has published numerous books, pamphlets and articles.  Mr. Gorski routinely makes himself available for interviews, public presentations, and consultant.  He has presented lectures and conducted workshops in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.  

For books, audio, and video tapes written and recommended by Terry Gorski contact: Herald House - Independence Press, P.O. Box 390 Independence, MO 64055.  Telephone: 816-521-3015 0r 1-800-767-8181.  His publication website is www.relapse.org.

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