“Drug czar,” Congressman, Others Met at Chicago’s A Safe Haven This Week On Creating Better Drug Policy    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        

CONTACT:
Benjamin Singer, A Safe Haven, 314.239.1308, bsinger@asafehaven.org
Yvette P. Cravins, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 202.225.5051, Yvette.Cravins@mail.house.gov

Chicago—On Monday, the United States’ most influential drug policy officials gathered in a boardroom on the West Side to discuss the best ways they can work together to reduce the harm caused by drug use.

The forum was convened by Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), the Ranking Member of a Congressional subcommittee addressing health care reform. Participants included the Obama administration’s “drug czar,” Gil Kerlikowske, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), as well as Neli Vazquez-Rowland, the President of A Safe Haven in Chicago, which helps the homeless become self-sufficient—often providing addiction treatment and recovery management.

The participants, listed in full below, gathered to discuss the impact of federal and local drug prevention and treatment initiatives to combat recidivism and substance misuse. They met at A Safe Haven, a Chicago social enterprise that has a history of defying state and federal recidivism rates—for the better. This year, A Safe Haven is on track to produce high success rates for job placement (76%), job retention (90%), and affordable/permanent housing (92%), as part of a contract with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Kerlikowske, formerly Seattle’s police chief and a decorated veteran, had high praise for drug courts that divert offenders to agencies such as A Safe Haven.

“Anyone who’s been to any of these programs and viewed them, clearly can see and recognize that they aren’t about being soft on drugs or soft on crime—it’s about giving people a pathway to turn their lives around,” said Kerlikowske. “From a dollars and cents standpoint, it makes an awful lot of sense. … I have met people all over this country that, instead of using taxpayer dollars, are actually back, working, paying taxes, taking care of their families and taking care of their neighborhoods.”

Davis said he was pleased by the event.

“Having the Director of National Drug Control Policy at A Safe Haven illustrates the importance of policy and its effect on our communities,” said Davis. “I look forward to working with ONDCP to implement many of the recommendations offered by our esteemed panels and audience.”

A Safe Haven Foundation President Neli Vazquez-Rowland expressed her hope, and frustration, over the state of drug policy.

“We were delighted that Director Kerlikowske met at A Safe Haven with us, our legislative leaders, and other community providers doing good work on these issues,” said Vazquez-Rowland. “Illinois has some of the most innovative, successful programs that break the cycle of crime and its costly consequences. The research supports the social and economic value of our community-based work—the only thing missing is investing taxpayer dollars accordingly.”

Full list of participants:
Gil Kerlikowske, Director, National Drug Control Policy
The Honorable Paul Biebel, Jr., Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County
Renee Oshinski, Deputy Director, Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12
Michael Finley, Michael Finley Foundation, NBA Champion 2007 (San Antonio Spurs)
Mark Kammerer, Cook County State's Attorney's office
The Honorable Mattie Hunter, Illinois Senator – 3rd District
Neli Vazquez-Rowland, President, A Safe Haven Foundation
Sara Moscato Howe, MS, CHES, Chief Executive Officer, Illinois Alcoholism & Drug Dependence Association
Joel K. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Human Resources Development Institute, Inc.

           

About A Safe Haven

A Safe Haven empowers families and individuals experiencing homelessness or crisis to achieve sustainable self-sufficiency. After a crisis struck their own family, Neli Vazquez-Rowland and Brian Rowland left their careers in finance to found A Safe Haven in 1994. Frustrated by fragmented services, Neli and Brian integrated supportive housing, case management, addiction treatment, education, and life skills, with a network of affordable housing, industry training, and job placement at A Safe Haven. Professional Institutes include landscaping, food service, security, housekeeping, and customer service. After finishing a program customized to each resident’s needs, A Safe Haven’s graduates thrive as they contribute to society. Graduates earned $3.2 million and paid nearly $500,000 in taxes in 2010, due to some of the United States’ highest job placement and retention rates, measured by the Department of Labor. Now people in crisis, particularly the homeless, have a comprehensive, integrated path to self-sufficiency and independence. At a time when economic and political realities demand a new approach, A Safe Haven helps people help themselves, partnering public and private interests to deliver a sustainable, evidence-based social business enterprise model that makes a direct and lasting impact. A Safe Haven has been lauded by leaders in academia, policy, and business, and other stakeholders for developing the model to solve homelessness and crisis. A Safe Haven relies on public and private support at every level. Learn more and watch videos at www.ASafeHaven.org or www.Facebook.com/ASafeHavenFoundation.

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