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Alahou Clean & Sober Clean and Sober Housing Program Program Description: Life on the street in West Hawaii for an individual battling the dual adversaries of mental illness and addiction is a deadly, no-win game. Eating from garbage bins, at constant physical risk of violence and disease, and having no peer support or role models quickly erodes personal will and self-esteem —and the descent continues. The residents of Alahou Clean & Sober came from that world, and it is to that world they will return if we are unsuccessful in helping them keep their dream of recovery alive. Most of our participants came to Alahou either as homeless or from the judiciary system. For these 50 to 60 people, it's us or the street. Alahou Clean & Sober was formed for the specific purpose of providing up to 60 of these at-risk individuals with a clean, safe and affordable supported-living and recovery program in a peer-enforced drug- and alcohol-free environment. At Alahou, participants proactively care for and monitor each other as they continue to work on their individual recovery programs. The Alahou facility consists of 19 one- and two-bedroom furnished apartments in three separate but adjacent buildings. Apartments are segregated by gender, and bedrooms and living areas are shared. Common areas, including a large covered lanai and coin-operated laundry facility, are shared as well. Residents are responsible for maintaining all common areas, including landscaping, and for maintaining their individual apartments in a clean and habitable manner. Quarters are subject to entry and search without notice by the staff and members of the Residents' Council. On-site AA/Substance Abuse support group meetings are conducted several times a week and each resident must attend a minimum of two. Life-skills discussion groups are also conducted several times each week to assist participants in development of effective coping and interpersonal skills. These life- skills meetings are facilitated by professionals from other agencies whose missions include support of our population. Mandatory Community Meetings are held weekly during which topics of general interest are discussed and issues of concern are raised. The Alahou office is staffed during normal business hours by the Executive and Program Directors and during evening and weekend hours by resident volunteers who monitor the property, provide access to supplies, and respond to emergencies. At the time of occupancy, new residents are required to sign an agreement acknowledging a commitment to abide by Alahou house rules and restrictions, especially with regard to drug or alcohol possession or consumption. They further agree to immediate eviction if they are found to be in possession of drugs or alcohol on Alahou property, or fail to abide by Alahou's house rules regarding behavior. The Executive and Program Directors are the only employees of the corporation. All other administrative and operational functions are handled by volunteers from among our program participants. It is this voluntary acceptance of personal responsibility for one's individual success, the success of one's peers, and the success of the Alahou program that marks a significant step along the path to each participant's ongoing recovery. NONPROFIT GRANT APPLICATION FISCAL YEAR 2012-13 Page 2 of 8