Drug Center for Homeless Is Losing Its Own Home

After just 14 months of offering drug and alcohol treatment programs to the homeless men and women on downtown’s Skid Row, the Turnaround Alternative Drug Treatment Center will itself be homeless, and out of business, by noon today.

The center, which featured acupuncture in its treatments, has both run out of money and lost its quarters in a city-owned building at 526 S. San Pedro St.

Today, at 11 a.m., those who have dropped in at Turnaround for counseling, group therapy, light exercise or just a cup of hot herbal tea will leave its small offices in an old warehouse, along with the volunteer staff of four.

New Use for Quarters

The city is turning over the warehouse, which it has provided rent-free to Turnaround, to the Los Angeles Men’s Place, a center for mentally ill homeless men. After extensive renovations, the warehouse will be ready for use in about 10 months.

Surviving solely on a $2,000 grant from a private foundation and free rent from the city, Turnaround has used up its funds, according to Alan Francis, one of the center’s two program directors.

The center, modeled after a program in New York City’s South Bronx, opened its doors in November, 1986, offering treatment on an outpatient basis. Its directors say they have treated about 1,600 patients, drawn primarily from downtown’s homeless. The doors were open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. No appointments were necessary.

“Turnaround is one of the better and most effective programs we have in this city,” said Joanna Mercier, a social worker with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. “That place is going to leave such a vacancy down here. There is nothing comparable to it. It was one bright spot down here.”

Mercier said she believes the combination of group therapy, acupuncture, yoga and a 12-step method toward a drug and alcohol-free life has helped many people.

Difficult to Replace

“I’m looking at my resource book now and I’m wondering where I’m going to send my people,” she said.

Carol Taub, another program director, said she believes local government and private agencies alike are making a big mistake in not doing more to help Turnaround.

“There’s so much emphasis put on the homeless problem, but little is said about the the link between drugs and the homeless. Most people are homeless because of drugs and alcohol.”

Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Grace Davis said there had been consideration of a plan to continue to provide space for Turnaround, but city officials and agency representatives could not reach an agreement.

“Unfortunately they had to compete with everybody else who wants money,” Davis said.

Today’s closing will be marked with a ceremony consisting of testimonials and farewells.

One of the patients, Willy Montgomery, a 32-year-old homeless man who said he has been addicted to cocaine for five years and is also an alcoholic, began treatment at Turnaround just two weeks ago but already feels indebted to the agency.

“I feel more relaxed and more confident these days,” said Montgomery, who emptied trash cans in an attempt to help the staff.

“The acupuncture helps clear your mind,” he said, adding, “This place is gonna be a loss to the community and to the area.”