Free alcohol makes homeless safer?

[Ori]

According to this link it does...

http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/01/...ealthier-safer

But if it's legitamate, do you think it's a good idea?

After all, wouldn't food and shelter be a better option?

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Orichalcum

According to this link it does...

http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/01/...ealthier-safer

But if it's legitamate, do you think it's a good idea?

After all, wouldn't food and shelter be a better option?

I don't see how this practice can be helpful. Jobs for the homeless would be great, as well as affordable housing, medical care, and mental health screening.

From the link -
"Seventeen homeless adults, all with long and chronic histories of alcohol abuse, were allowed up to 15 glasses of wine or sherry a day - a glass an hour from 7am to 10pm - in the Ottawa-based program, which started in 2002 and is continuing. [The Visible Poor : Homelessness in the United States]"

[michel]

Originally Posted by Orichalcum

According to this link it does...

http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/01/...ealthier-safer

But if it's legitamate, do you think it's a good idea?

After all, wouldn't food and shelter be a better option?

Interesting; giving them free drinks means that they will become used to and trust the person giving them the drink. That person can then try to encourage them to eat, or to find a shelter; it also means that hardened alcoholics won't (hopefully) be drinking something harmful and cheap ( in lieu of alcohol).

Strikes me as a good idea, a good way to gain these poor lonely people's trust, so as to try to help them.