Necessary but insufficient: NIMBY and the development of a therapeutic community for homeless persons with co-morbid disorders

Abstract

This paper uses a discourse analysis of print media articles to assess the prevalence of NIMBY (not in my backyard) sentiment, and community acceptance of a therapeutic community for homeless persons with co-morbid disorders. While evidence of NIMBY is present, the contested nature of the proposed facility in terms of competing explanations for land use renders NIMBY insufficient in explaining the conflict. In addition to the dominant discourse highlighting the central arguments for facility siting, intersecting discourses involving the local municipal government and First Nations reveal a complex debate. Thus, the development of more sophisticated analytical approaches and societal responses to siting facilities for homelessness persons with co-morbid disorders are required.

Keywords:

• NIMBY
• homelessness
• co-morbid disorder
• therapeutic community
• discourse analysis

Notes

Woodwynn Farms represents a unique development in that it appears to be the first to focus on homeless persons with co-morbid disorders. In essence, WFTC represents a hybrid of therapeutic community approaches, which is uniquely suited to its socio-cultural context. The fundamental element of the TC involves treating the whole person using his/her peers – what Rapoport (1960) calls the community as doctor (in Kennard 1998). Central to this approach is an emphasis on recovery through changing the whole person. This is achieved through right living, which refers to the moral code established by each TC, but all share the tenets of sobriety and abstinence from substances. The exceptions are TCs that offer transitional treatment such as methadone maintenance (De Leon 1997, Kennard 1998). Recovery involves a multidimensional change through the process of social learning, which occurs through self-help in the TC (Kooyman 1993). Although the amount of time in the community varies from a few months to several years, full time residency in the TC is crucial for individuals to benefit from the therapeutic aspect. With a few exceptions, TCs have generic features and follow a common therapeutic community structure. The physical environment has central meeting and eating areas and an informal and communal atmosphere. The daily regimen is highly structured and includes several activities provided in a 24 h treatment environment. Residents participate in regular meetings, educational classes and therapy groups. A peer work structure operates the community; this provides a predictable space for work and social life with well-defined boundaries for residents who up to now have had little or no structure in their lives. Residents learn the value of reliability, responsibility, accountability and consistency in daily living (De Leon 2000, NIDA 2002).

In addition, WFTC is modelled partially on the therapeutic community at San Patrignano, Italy, which appears to be less structured than other therapeutic communities in North America and Europe. Despite its capacity to house up to 1600 residents plus staff, the model driving San Patrignano does not hold to a scripted therapeutic programme consisting of predetermined phases and related duration. The lack of prescriptive elements is supplanted with an emphasis on environmental therapy in what can be considered a microcosm of society (Guidicini and Pieretti n.d.b). Identified as the city effect, environmental therapy involves the daily trials and tribulations of a typical community, but with a difference – rather than being marginalized from the community, individuals are part of the solution to the problems they pose and/or encounter. Therapy includes participation and responsibilities in daily life with each resident proceeding along his/her biographical path until they are ready to return to their home community (Guidicini and Pieretti n.d.a). Evaluation of San Patrignano's effectiveness, conducted by researchers at the University of Bologna, reveals high abstinence from substances for residents that remain in the community for at least 14 months, upwards of 72% using longitudinal analysis (Guidicini and Pieretti n.d.b). However, San Patrignano does not have the facilities or the expertise to deal with residents with severe mental health disorders. Moreover, the selection process ensures that by the time an applicant is accepted into the programme, he/she has a greater likelihood of succeeding (Guidicini and Pieretti n.d.a).

For example, see Gibson (2005) for further reading.