Welcome to the
Community Model
Training Institute
The Community Model
is an
overarching service philosophy
that provides both
harm reduction
and
community-building.
The Community Model
provides a comprehensive menu of
specific housing, service, and
support components that are:
• accessible
• stable
• tailored for individual growth and
development
The Community ModelOverview
The Community Model is….
• a comprehensive method of service
provision
• has helped 1000’s of homeless people with
mental illness achieve residential stability
and an improved quality of life over the past
18 years
• uses harm reduction service strategies in a
safe, flexible & non-hierarchical environment
• allows people to tailor their own paths to
recovery and wellness
What are the goals of the
Community Model?
• To provide a safe, flexible and non-judgmental
environment to build trust and develop
relationships with persons who have been
labeled “hard-to-engage” and “service
resistant”
• To Improve the residential stability of
homeless, mentally ill persons
• To Provide a life-long community & support
system where people can improve their lives in
many arenas
Success & Replication
of the Community Model
• Used as a prototype for the federal “Safe Havens”
program
• Utilized in the design of the federal government’s recent
Collaborative Initiative to Help End Chronic
Homelessness in Los Angeles
• Received HUD’s Community Service Excellence Award
• Identified as an exemplary service model by the
California State Governor
• Highlighted as one of HUD’s “Best Practices” service
models
• Components of the model have been adapted and
replicated by other agencies across the country, most
recently by Ocean Park Community Center
Who does the Community
Model work for?
Persons who are:
• Chronically Homeless
• Seriously Mentally Ill & addicted to one or more
substances
• Developmentally Disabled
• On parole/probation –in and out of jail
• HIV+, have AIDS &/or have serious medical conditions
• Socially Marginalized
• Not “successful” or easily engaged in other programs
• Disconnected from friends, family, society
Philosophical Framework
of the Community Model
What is Harm Reduction?
Philosophical Framework
of the Community Model
Harm Reduction is a set of practical
strategies that reduce negative
consequences of drug use and mental
illness, incorporating methods from
safer use, to managed use, to
abstinence; that are voluntary, diverse,
and health enhancing.
Philosophical Framework
of the Community Model
Harm Reduction strategies meet dualdiagnosed persons “where they’re at”,
addressing conditions of use and
treatment along with the illness or drug
use itself.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction acknowledges that mental
illness, licit and illicit drug use are part of
our world and chooses to work to minimize
their harmful effects rather than simply
ignore or condemn them.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction does not attempt to minimize
or ignore the many severe and lasting harms
and dangers associated with licit and illicit drug
use.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction recognizes that the realities of
poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past
trauma, sex-based discrimination and other
social inequalities affect people’s vulnerability
to and capacity for effectively dealing with
mental illness and drug-related harms.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction acknowledges that some
ways of treating mental illness and using drugs
are clearly safer than others.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction establishes quality of individual
and community life and well-being-- not
necessarily cessation of drug use or mental
health treatment- as the criteria for successful
interventions and policies.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction ensures that duallydiagnosed persons and those with a history of
drug use and/or mental illness routinely have a
real voice in the creation of programs and
policies designed to serve them.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Affirms dual-diagnosed persons themselves as
the primary agents of reducing the harms of their
illness/drug use, and seeks to empower them to
share information and support each other in
strategies that meet their actual conditions of
use and of improved mental/physical health.
Principles of Harm Reduction
• Harm Reduction calls for the non-judgmental,
non-coercive provision of services, housing,
and resources to people who are dualdiagnosed and the communities where they
live in order to assist them in reducing
attendant harms.
The Importance of Community Community Building Principles
• Services are provided to the
individuals in the community in which
they reside.
• Services voluntary, non-coercive and
loosely structured.
• Members are the primary agents of
change.
• The Community Model is nonhierarchical and non-judgmental.
The Importance of Community Community Building Principles
• All programs and services within the
Community Model are integrated with each
other.
• Mental illness and addiction are lifelong
cyclical illnesses that often require lifelong
recovery processes.
• Housing is essential for good health,
psychiatric stability and well-being.
Characteristics of the
Community Model
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Supportive and Lifelong
Tolerant
Flexible and Non-Linear
Voluntary
Consistent
Accessible and Integrated
Diverse
OPCC Mission Statement
OPCC is a community-supported organization in which staff, volunteers and clients
work together with mutual respect to address the effects of poverty, abuse,
neglect and discrimination. The agency’s programs are designed to empower
people to access the resources they need to ensure their survival, end their
victimization and improve the quality of their life. OPCC provides common
ground for our diverse community to effect public policy and advocate
responsive human services.
Values
• We believe that all human beings have a right to dignity, respect and selfdetermination, and we acknowledge the value and worth of each individual’s life
experience and potential.
• We believe in the empowering of those people impacted by poverty, domestic
violence and mental illness through the provision of education, services and
resources.
• We believe that a community helping others is a community helping itself.
OPCC is committed to:
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Empowering people who face social, emotional and economic obstacles;
enabling them to move from chaos to stability, from dependence to
independence.
Advocating for and with people who become invisible because of
violence, hunger, poverty, and recent immigration.
Providing comprehensive, multi-faceted, immediately responsive social
services.
Providing safety, food, shelter and clothing to battered women and their
children, runaway and abused youth, and homeless men and women.
Enabling clients to utilize existing community resources through strong
advocacy, informed referral and follow-though.
OPCC Guiding Principles
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Respect and believe that every individual can grow and change.
Instill a sense of hope; focus on each person’s strength, capabilities and needs.
Honor clients’ choices and promote self-determination.
‘Meet them where they’re at’ and individualize services accordingly.
Address each individual’s right to safety, health, money, housing, jobs, family and
friends.
Commit to social justice through client empowerment, social and political activism.
Encourage risk taking, promote natural consequences and accept responsibility;
engage in ongoing critical evaluation of services and perceive failure as
opportunities for growth and learning by clients, staff and volunteers.
Involve clients in all aspects of program planning, provision and evaluation; client
needs drive programs.
Provide services in accessible, welcoming and comfortable environments.
Promote diversity to attain cultural synergy.
Lamp Community’s Components of the
Community Model
A Menu of services….
• Each is independently
operated but is strongly
integrated with the others
• Provide a network of options
• Easy for members to move
from one component to
another
• Members can combine
services from several
components at once
• There is a program
component, and a supportive
environment, to help answer
the needs of almost every
member
Lamp Community Component:
AB34/Outreach
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Best Practice
Provides integrated,
community-based
wrap-around services
and outreach to dually
diagnosed individuals
released from jail and
other institutions
Prevent them from
falling back into
homelessness and
works with them on life
recovery.
Lamp Community Component:
Safe Haven Day Center
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Open 7 days a week
A highly tolerant, safe, and
unstructured environment
Engage “hard-to-engage”
individuals
Two basic rules
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no violence
no substance use
on the premises
Drop-in services provided
consistently to help
encourage a sense of
stability
Lamp Community Component:
Safe Haven Respite Shelter
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18 beds in semi-private
cubicles in the Safe Haven
Building & 12 beds used as
shelter in next door masterleased apartment
Congregate area for house
meetings and activities–
helps to build a sense of
community and connection
No time limits–most
members stay between 1
and 6 months
Advocates work with
members on gaining
stability and achieving
individual goals
Lamp Community Component:
“Transitional Housing” Lamp Village
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More structured
No limit on length of stay
Relapse is tolerated;
focus is on member’s
behaviors and goals
Extended relapse or
negative behaviors that
affect the Village
community would cause a
move to a less restrictive
environment
Advocates work with
members on
individualized service
plans
Lamp Community Component:
Supportive Housing Program
• Offers over 100
independent, supportive,
housing units
• Agency-managed apartment
building and collaborations
with two local non-profit
housing developers
• Members have private
rooms
• Advocates provide on-site
support to tenants
• Community is promoted by
the advocates & the tenants
of the buildings
Lamp Community Component:
Skid Row Collaborative
• A collaboration of 10
agencies
• 11 collaborative projects
funded in the country by
SAMHSA, HRSA, VA & HUD
• Lamp Community and Skid
Row Housing Trust are the
lead agencies
• Provide services and
supportive housing to 62
adults experiencing chronic
homelessness, mental
illness, and substance abuse
• 20% Veterans
• Assists member make a
successful transition from
the streets to permanent
housing, self-sufficiency, and
a better quality of life.
Lamp Community Component
Member Operated Businesses & Employment:
Many of our members have not
had the opportunity to
contribute in valuable ways
or to invest in their futures.
Employment can be that
vehicle.
The Village Industries are a
cluster of small businesses
providing needed services
for the downtown
neighborhood and a source
of job training and
employment for Lamp
Community members
Lamp Community Component
Member Operated Businesses & Employment:
Village Industries:
• The Linen Service is a
commercial laundry that
provides linen services for local
non-profit hotels and shelters.
The linen is laundered, folded,
pressed and delivered by
member employees.
• The Public Showers/Toilets
are public showers and toilets
that are open to the public.
• The Laundromat is a coinoperated Laundromat that
serves Lamp Community and
the entire Skid Row
Community
Member Employment Opportunities
within Lamp Community:
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Linen Service Worker
Food Service Worker
Laundromat Service Worker
Public Toilets and Showers
Service Worker
Peer Advocate - All
programs
Receptionist - All sites
Maintenance Assistant
Night Watch Assistant Permanent Residence
Shelter Watch Assistant –
Shelter
Members can also apply for
Staff Positions and are
considered according to
qualifications with other
applicants
Lamp Community Component:
Supportive Services
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Meals
Clothing
Hygiene, Showers &
Laundry
Individual and Group
Counseling
Health Education
12-Step Recovery
Programs
Harm Reduction
Education
Relapse Prevention
Voluntary Drug testing
Psychiatric Evaluation &
Monitoring
Lamp Community Component:
Supportive Services
• Medication Management
• Specialized HIV Case
Management
• Entitlements Advocacy
• Money management
• Representative Payee
Services
• Employment Training and
Placement
• Socialization and
Recreational Outings
• Art and Performance
Instruction
• Referrals to other necessary
services
Community Model
Training Institute
Tools to Build Rapport,
Respect, Trust, & Community
With Members/Guests
and Co-workers!
Characteristics of Staff
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Good Attitude
Open
Flexible
Communicative
Ability to think
outside of the Box
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Common Sense
Caring
Empathetic
Friendly
Organized
Motivated
Positive
Characteristics of Staff
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Professional
Self-starter
Independent Thinker
Committed
Creative
Non-Judgmental
• Good Sense of
Humor
• Consistent
• Team Player
• Introspective
• Non-traditional
• Beginner’s Mind
Thank You!
Visit www.communitymodella.org
for more information on the Community Model
and the collaborative partners.
Community Model
Training Institute
A collaborative project of Shelter Partnership,
Lamp Community, OPCC, & RAND Corporation;
funded by The California Endowment