San Francisco is terminating a controversial program that provided alcohol to homeless individuals struggling with addiction, known as the Managed Alcohol Program (MAP), which cost taxpayers around $5 million annually.
• Program Overview: Initiated in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, MAP supplied controlled amounts of alcohol to prevent withdrawal symptoms among homeless individuals in hotels.
• High Costs: The program served only 55 clients over nearly six years, averaging approximately $454,000 per person.
• Mayor's Decision: Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the end of MAP, stating it "doesn’t make sense" to continue funding it. He has also shifted the city’s approach from harm reduction to recovery-focused strategies, ending contracts with nonprofit Community Forward, which managed the initiative.
• Policy Changes: Since taking office, Lurie has pushed for stricter enforcement against open drug use and has prioritized abstinence and treatment-based services, including signing the Recovery First Act.
• Community Reactions: Many recovery advocates support the decision, arguing that MAP misused public funds rather than facilitating meaningful recovery.
The closure of the Managed Alcohol Program indicates a significant policy shift in San Francisco’s approach to homelessness and addiction, focusing more on recovery and abstinence, despite ongoing challenges such as limited treatment facilities.
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