How does your family decide which restaurant to spend their money at? Is it the one that promises fantastic food and service, or the one that consistently delivers? Imagine sitting down for dinner at a restaurant. The waitress tells you that the new chef has created a menu, but although she hasn’t tasted the food or seen anyone eat it, she assures you it’s very good. If you decided to take a chance based on her promises, only to find the meal inedible and the service rude, would you still pay for it?
Now, consider if the government offered grants to cover this restaurant’s budget because of its exceptional advertising. Would you stay silent about how your tax dollars are being spent, or would you get a bit snarky? This scenario might already be occurring outside the restaurant industry. The push for so-called “low-barrier” shelters is a prime example.
Why Low-Barriers Are Unsafe
A “low-barrier” shelter has two characteristics that can compromise safety: it doesn’t require sobriety or program participation. These requirements are viewed as “barriers” to entry, although this label remains unproven. If they are indeed barriers, then they are only barriers to willing participation. Moreover, if the priority is not to violate a person’s will, then law-abiding citizens should receive the same consideration. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund shelters without a say in how their money is spent but should be able to choose to support programs that achieve results.
The Connection Between Sobriety and Safety
A simple internet search provides ample data showing that people under the influence of drugs or alcohol are less safe than those who are sober. For example:
- Up to 75% of individuals beginning treatment for a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) have a history of violent crimes.
- Alcohol or drug use is involved in 40-60% of domestic abuse cases.
- Over half of elder abuse cases involve individuals dependent on alcohol or drugs.
- Alcohol is a factor in 32% of murders in the U.S.
- Chronic substance users face a higher risk of suicide.
- Between 25% and 50% of men who commit domestic violence also suffer from SUDs.
- 80% of child abuse cases involve substance use.
- Women who abuse alcohol or drugs are more likely to be victims of domestic violence.
- Severe intoxication is present in 30-40% of suicide attempts. Individuals with alcohol dependence are at a suicide risk 10 times higher than the general population, while illicit drug users face a 14-fold increase.
The evidence is overwhelming: substance use elevates risks for the user and those nearby. Programs mandating sobriety don’t present a barrier to entry; they create a safe space for recovery. They also alleviate the fear of an unsafe environment.
The Reality of Program Participation
Some believe that if shelters prohibit drugs and weapons but don’t enforce sobriety or intervene in intoxication, people will seek recovery on their own. Despite the lack of supporting evidence, this approach is often presented as an alternative to programs requiring participation. It’s an odd suggestion, given the opposite results it produces.
At the Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission, only 17% of participants have never struggled with substance use. Over one-third actively battle addiction when entering. However, 80% don’t see sobriety requirements as a barrier. One-third of participants will successfully leave the program with a stable income and housing, and many who re-enter after a setback improve their chances of success. Only 7% leave due to substance abuse relapse, highlighting the Mission’s effective sobriety standards.
Returning to the Restaurant Analogy
Businesses that overpromise and underdeliver often fail without customer support. This is a good thing; it keeps quality products and services flourishing. When tax dollars prop up failing programs without accountability, the community suffers.
Donors support the Gospel Rescue Mission based on tangible results, not good intentions. By refusing government funds, the Mission avoids being tied to political agendas and stays committed to meaningful outcomes. When public funds are used on unaccountable experiments, it becomes a form of theft. Supporting the Gospel Rescue Mission helps end addiction and fosters community well-being—a win for everyone.
