Story Published:
Feb 4, 2008 at 11:25 PM MDT
Story Updated:
Feb 4, 2008 at 11:25 PM MDT
By
Danielle Leigh
We told you about one faith based group making money off ex-cons and addicts trying to get back on their feet.
Here in Eastern Idaho that isn't happening. The non-profit organizations, like the Family Care Center, that run our transition homes are actually crunching pennies, but why?
Ninety percent of the guys who call the ark the home, stay for free on the government's tab.
"As long as their in treatment the program pays for housing," says Director Robert Gulden.
By relying on federal and state programs to front the bill, these non profits allow the ex-cons to put their incomes toward a new life.
How many rooms open are there?
"There are actually two rooms right now but as soon as this week is over, boom those rooms are full," says Terry Miller, manager of The Ark.
But there's a few major problems with this model.
Let's start with Recovery Support Services, a state program that used to pay for two years of housing and supervision,
and now only pays for one.
Why is it hard to find enough funding for these programs?
"I think mainly its because many of these programs where there is funding its only to a certain limit. So the problem is what do we do after one year," says Gulden.
So the problem is that you can get the services but the services have a time cap?
"They have a limitation, correct," says Gulden.
And what you're trying to accomplish isn't necessarily accomplished in that time span?
"Correct," says Gulden.
To get any money the ex-cons or addicts have to be in treatment.
"We are having a hard time getting them into treatment. I don't know what the log jam is. We hardly see anybody moving into that program," says Gulden.
The program gives transition homes 11.50 dollars per person per day, plus 25 dollars an hour for a once a week life skills coaching session. It also gives money for drug testing and transportation.
So you are saying that even this 11.50, 25 dollars an hour isn't enough?
"See what you have to understand is that these guys are coming out of 24/7 facilities. These guys are supervised all the time and we want to try to do the same thing. So you go to understand the 25 dollars for an hour, those are just billable, but for staff that are actually on duty that are not involved in those kinds of life skills situations they have to get paid too. So, I mean when you really break it down you're looking at dollars and cents," says Miller.
While the state and federal government don't pay for the 24 hour supervision they do require it and enforce heavy penalties for those that don't follow protocol.
"We are required to do HUDD inspections, Health and Welfare does inspections, we have a fire inspector come every year," says Gulden.
These are standards those in Boise operating private homes don't answer to, and the ex-cons that have stayed there say it shows.
"When I got out I went to ARA house, their half way house. And then I messed up, and did another two and half years. When I got out these guys accepted me, and I've been doing really good since I got here," says Randy Wright.
Do you find that you get a lot more support here than you did at the half way house?
"Oh, way," says Wright.
What's the difference?
"Just it's more structured," says Wright.
As far as having 24/7 support how big has that been?
"That's huge. I lived in a group home one time that didn't offer the structure and the support and that didn't work," says Marianne Fox.
So how can we change the problem of this lack of funding?
"I think awareness. Those who are part of the community, who are decision makers, for the most part don't have a clue of what type of services, how we set up our programs. There is a perception that once you leave a person at a shelter that that family's or friend's issues have been solved and that's when our problems begin," says Gulden.
While the state is considering a new law that would force transition homes to be licensed.
They've done nothing to address the shrinking funds for these homes.
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