It sounds shocking, but for some chronic alcoholics experiencing homelessness, a managed alcohol program (MAP) is the difference between life and death. At The Oaks, a supportive housing program run by Shepherds of Good Hope in Ottawa, Canada, residents receive carefully measured alcohol doses throughout the day under medical supervision. Instead of drinking unsafe substances like mouthwash or hand sanitizer, they have stability, medical care, and a community that helps them regain control of their lives.
💡 “I drank alcohol not meant for human consumption—Listerine, mouthwash. I’m lucky to be alive.”
💡 “By coming to a managed alcohol program, I got sober. It is life-saving for many of us.”
💡 “Without this, people would be drinking on the streets, risking seizures, injuries, and death.”
Traditional recovery programs don’t work for everyone. Many chronic alcoholics will drink no matter what—so isn’t it better to keep them safe and alive? The Oaks provides housing-first support with individualized alcohol prescriptions, medical monitoring, and a sense of purpose for people who’ve struggled for years.
As one resident put it: “This has been the only program where I felt stable, safe, and committed to the result.”
👉 Watch to see how managed alcohol programs are saving lives, reducing public harm, and helping people rebuild their futures.
For more of a deep dive on managed alcohol programs, we produce this video podcast that can also be found wherever you get your audio podcasts:
Giving Booze to Alcoholics: Managed Alcohol Programs Work https://youtu.be/NH7bm4aglZY?si=_yiBa51FLNV1BDnV
Executive producer: Mark Horvath
Producer/editor/cinematographer: Alex Gasaway / https://www.youtube.com/alexgasaway
More stories:
📺 The Kensington They Don’t Show You: Homeless to Homeowner https://youtu.be/7gRc0Eq5iqY?si=eF8yQUHBHXFn7SHj
America Can End Homelessness: Hennepin County Shows How https://youtu.be/yq1C8l4uSZc?si=m3cCfBE8soqUy-CL
They’re Not Zombies—They’re Humans Fighting to Survive Kensington https://youtu.be/3WhK8sTT43s?si=Su5R1VttmmYxk8x6
From a Tent to a Home: No Longer Homeless https://youtu.be/0hkkGH_QADA?si=bEU1o5T77sZgBbpN
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Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.