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Table 1 Community-based shelters and transitional housing facilities, population served, services offered and average length of stay

From: Integrating smoking cessation and alcohol use treatment in homeless populations: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Community-based research site

Overview of guests’ demographics

Services offered

Average length of stay (days)

Persons served/yr

Dorothy Day Center (DDC)

The DDC is run by the umbrella organization Catholic Charities of Minnesota. The population that uses DDC is mostly male and mostly single; 15 % of the guests are over 55 years of age.

Emergency shelter, space for 250

90

2688/2014

Transitional housing, 42-bed women’s shelter

Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Food shelf

Medical and mental health care

Housing and employment advocacy

Counseling support

Laundry and bathroom/shower facilities

Computer laboratory

Our Savior’s Shelter (OSS)

OSS offers faith-based activities and other services. In the emergency shelter program, 85 % of the individuals are male, 46 % are African American and 88 % have a high school diploma or graduate equivalency degree (GED) or more. In the transitional housing program, there are 15 men, 16 women and 9 children.

Emergency shelter, 40 beds per night

34

650/2013

Transitional housing, 40 men, women and children

Two meals daily (lunch, dinner)

Bathroom/shower facilities

Case management services

Permanent supportive housing services

Union Gospel Mission

The Union Gospel Mission site is a faith-based site that concurrently runs a short-term emergency relief program alongside a transitional housing program and an intense alcohol and drug treatment facility.

Emergency shelter, space for 120 persons

32

2015

Transitional housing, 145 rooms

Alcohol drug treatment center, 75 men

24-h service desk

Intensive treatment programs

Bible study and work therapy

Large-group service

Health care/dental services

Clothing giveaway

Spanish interpreters

People Serving People (PSP)

PSP is a short-term transitional housing center that is geared to helping families find housing. The program’s stated goal is to help children by giving them direct care or by assisting their parents to gain the skills that will keep their families off the streets. The program serves women and children. About 60 % of those PSP serves are under 18 years of age, and 32 % of the total population is under age 5 years.

Three meals daily

39

1,286/2013

Medical clinic open 5 days/week

Mental health and chemical dependency services, employment assistance, literacy, early childhood development and legal aid programs

Guest access to voice mail, e-mail and in-house library

24-h front desk service supplying diapers, formula, warm clothing and other basic needs

Training programs in life skills, culinary arts, facilities training and workforce development

Counseling services

Family advocates to ensure families get connected with the resources and services they need