According to Einstein, a problem cannot be solved by using the same thought process that created the problem in the first place. Every so often an idea comes along that would make Einstein proud.
Our community has repeatedly tried to address and solve the problem of public drunkenness in the downtown area. We’ve increased police presence in this area; checked countless people into detoxification centers; and transported many to area emergency rooms. None of these solutions, however, has eradicated the problem. Our town needs a new way of addressing the problem.
Fortunately, there is new thinking in our community. Center City Housing has proposed a plan to build a supportive housing project for chronic alcoholics. The housing will provide a safe place for those who have repeatedly failed treatment or who have no motivation to change. Ultimately, this housing will help reduce the number of chronic alcoholics wandering the streets downtown. I am convinced Einstein would endorse the home for chronic alcoholics as a different way to help solve this problem.
Unfortunately, Einstein is not available to offer us his stamp of approval.
While the proposed housing project might cause a few heads to turn, its
pragmatic approach to eradicating public drunkenness should appeal to business people.
First, the house will be a factor in reducing the number of intoxicated people on the street. If those who suffer from chronic alcoholism live and drink in one place, we will see far fewer public incidents that require police intervention.
Second, the house will give authorities an alternative to bringing those creating public disturbances to area emergency rooms or detoxification centers. Providing an alternative to emergency room care would reduce the financial burden this population creates for the hospital systems in our community. Local hospital emergency rooms provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in services to this population – almost all of it without compensation (St. Luke’s tracked this population for six months and racked up a bill of $135,000). Every time hospitals lose money providing a mandated service, such as caring for the chronically intoxicated, they have to charge higher rates to everyone else. This means all businesses pay higher insurance rates, which affects the bottom line of each business that offers health insurance to its employees. Reducing dependency upon emergency rooms and their highly trained staff would help our hospitals keep their rates competitive. Finally, the project just makes good sense. What is so bad about taking care of people, particularly when the doing so means a safer, cleaner community for all?
The Chamber recently passed a broad-based initiative that called for additional housing in Duluth. Further, we passed a resolution that supported Housing 1000, wherein our community works to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing for those in need. As such, the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce officially supports the Center City Housing plan for a supportive housing project for chronic alcoholics.
Of course, the housing project will not eliminate the problem of chronic alcoholism entirely. But, clearly, the methods we’ve employed in the past are not working. The Center City Housing project offers a new way to address an old problem. If you are in favor of helping the city solve this problem, email your support to the city council at
council@ci.duluth.mn.us.
