By Brennan MacLean | SDUN Reporter
Pathfinders Shelter Plus Care is a unique rehabilitation program designed to treat those afflicted with drug addiction, homelessness and mental illness. By taking a multi-faceted approach, Shelter Plus combats the negative effects of persons struggling with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance abuse.
With its primary location on University Avenue in North Park, Pathfinders has shelters in North and South Parks. The University Avenue location was once home to North Park Inn, a hub for criminal activity. In the thirty days leading up to the Inn closing in 2009, there were 108 police calls resulting in 93 arrests for drug addiction and prostitution.
The center is now responsible for rehabilitating hundreds of people who come from all walks of life. The Pathfinders program has more than 56 years of experience treating addiction with social model recovery methods. One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the facility saved his life.
“I was disheveled and homeless struggling through serious heartache. I drank everyday. I devalued everything in my life. I still suffer from my paranoid schizophrenia and social anxiety, but I have eight years in recovery. Shelter Plus has helped me do that.”
The philosophy of Shelter Plus is that individuals suffering with a dual diagnosis of addiction and any other medical illness need a specialized recovery model in order to get off the streets. In the past these residents have not been successful in their recovery because facilities failed to provide them with an all-encompassing strategy for recovery. Mental and physical illness, drug addiction and alcoholism are all noted issues that hinder a person’s ability to overcome homelessness.
At Shelter Plus, the nationally recognized Social Model Method approach has shown through various studies to save taxpayer funds. For every dollar spent on the all-encompassing method of recovery, seven dollars are saved from hospitalization, damage to public property and law enforcement that would have been spent on multiple treatment and handling methods.
Eric Zielke, Program Manager and former resident of Shelter Plus explained the Social Model Method as being based on one important principle. “The whole key in being able to recover is being able to identify. I’m not [going to] identify with a doctor or social worker. Have they lived under the bridge?” he said, adding, “I’m in recovery myself. It boils down to one alcoholic helping another alcoholic.”
Zielke also said, “There’s a stigma associated with mental illness and addiction, but with proper treatment people can contribute to our community.”
Part of the Shelter Plus philosophy is recovering from mental illness, addiction and homelessness is only one important aspect of successfully reintegrating into society. Giving back to the community through community service projects such as grafitti removal and canyon clean-up is a requirement of the program.
“The state tried me as an habitual criminal. I have bipolar schizoaffective disorder and PTSD,” said another anonymous resident. “But today, I volunteer at the winter shelter. I’m a resident monitor here. I’m sober and I’m inspired by working with other alcoholics.”
The Shelter Plus program is financially supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered San Diego Housing Commission.
