SIP: Serial Inebriate Program

Notes from the state homeless conference, 04/10/07:

San Diego Police Department’s Serial Inebriate Program attempts to stop the “revolving door” (detox to jail to hospital to street and back) for chronically homeless alcoholics. The SIP strategy is to convict on criminal charges (drunk in public/disorderly conduct) and then provide treatment and housing in lieu of jail time.

Initial research found that 15 of San Diego’s chronic inebriates made 417 emergency department trips over an 18-month period ending in December 1998, at a cost of nearly $1.5 million. SIP began in January 2000, and by 2004, a SIP impact study showed that hospital costs for the serial inebriate population were reduced by 80%.

>> View this SIP presentation for more, including goals, strategy, partnerships, funding, and before and after photos of people who’ve participated in the SIP program.