March 30, 2009
Media advisory: Briefing to explore if housing for homeless alcoholics can save taxpayers money
WHAT: News conference and teleconference announcing embargoed results from JAMA study about providing housing and support services for homeless alcoholics.
WHO: Study co-authors Mary Larimer, University of Washington professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, William Hobson, executive director of the Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle and Ron Sims, outgoing King County Executive and nominee for deputy secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development
WHEN: 1 p.m. (PDT), Tuesday, March 31.
WHERE: UW’s Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, third floor, 45th Street Plaza Building at the northeast corner of NE 45th Street and 11th Avenue NE in the University District. Paid parking is available in the basement and behind the building.
DETAILS: Researchers will present results of a study on the cost benefits of a controversial model program called Housing First at 1811 Eastlake Ave. East in Seattle. The study compares the costs to taxpayers of housing homeless alcoholics at 1811 Eastlake against leaving them on the street where the major costs are the police and emergency health care.
More information about 1811 Eastlake is available at http://www.desc.org/1811.html.
To receive dial-in information to participate in the news conference, contact Carol Lin Vieira, Burness Communications, at cvieira@burnesscommunications.com or 401-714-0821.
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