THE SAN FRANCISCO MANAGED ALCOHOL PROGRAM, OR MAP, WAS ESTABLISHED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO PREVENT VULNERABLE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO WERE PLACED IN ISOLATION IN HOTEL ROOMS FROM SUFFERING FROM ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL. BUT THE PROGRAM, WHICH STARTED WITH 10 BEDS, HAS SINCE BEEN EXPANDED INTO A 20-BED PROGRAM THAT OPERATES OUT OF A FORMER HOTEL IN TENDERLOIN WITH A $5 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE REPORTED. ALICE MOUGHAMIAN, THE NURSE MANGER OF THE MANAGED ALCOHOL PROGRAM AND THE SAN FRANCISCO SOBERING CENTER, EXPLAINED IN AN OCTOBER PRESENTATION THAT NURSES PROVIDE CLIENTS WITH A MOTEL ROOM, THREE MEALS A DAY, AND ENOUGH ALCOHOL "TO MEET THEIR ADDICTION NEEDS, BUT KEEPING SOMEONE AT A SAFE LEVEL OF INTOXICATION."
INITIAL SUCCESS IN STABILIZING ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS PROMPTED HEALTH OFFICIALS TO EXPAND THE PILOT INTO A LONG-TERM PROGRAM WITH 10 BEDS EARMARKED FOR "THE LATINX AND INDIGENOUS POPULATION," WHILE 12 ADDITIONAL BEDS ARE SUPPORTED AT THE CITY'S TRADITIONAL SOBERING CENTER, MOUGHAMIAN SAID. 5 MILLION YEARLY BUDGET for 20 people ?? How do i get me some of that money?
