South Baltimore Station & Seton Hill Station
South Baltimore Station and Seton Hill Station are recovery-oriented, therapeutic communities.  South Baltimore Station which was founded in 1989, and Seton Hill Station which we proudly took over on July 1, 2004, are for men who have become homeless largely due to a history of chronic substance abuse.  The Baltimore Station program directly addresses the issues and root causes that led these men to the streets and lives of alcoholism and drug addiction. 

Located in a former fire house in South Baltimore, the South Baltimore Station facility includes fifty beds in a dormitory setting.  Also located in a former fire house in Seton Hill, the Seton Hill Station facility includes 25 beds in also a dormitory setting.  Program participants live in these communal settings for the program duration, which typically lasts from six to twenty-four months.

A requisite for the program completion is that each participant, in addition to remaining substance-free, must acquire stable housing and gainful employment.  Throughout the program the men learn from the necessary skills to achieve success in these areas.  Many of our graduates have gone to further their educational pursuits.

All of the program staff at the Baltimore Station are graduates of the program.  In addition, program graduates are currently serving in various industries throughout the city of Baltimore.  Recent graduates have assumed responsibilities at the following area businesses:  American Visionary Art Museum, Living Classrooms Foundation, University of Maryland Hospital, Connor Associates, Mayflower, Food Lion, Light Street Housing, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, and BWI Airport.

WHY WE ARE SUCCESSFUL...

We attribute our success to the following unique features of our program:

• Program Staff:   Every member of the Baltimore Station counseling staff was a prior participant in our program.  New program participants feel comfortable in an atmosphere guided by individuals who understand first-hand their history and substance abuse problem.

• Program Structure:   The Baltimore Station's program is a hybrid design that encompasses the three traditional levels of treatment within one long-term facility.  The distinct needs and issues of homeless and addicted men are addressed in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner within  a rigorous environment that stresses self-sufficiency and accountability.  Each day begins at 5:45AM and continues until 9:00 or 9:30PM, with lights out at 11:00PM.  Veterans in particular respond well to this demanding and highly structured schedule because it resonates with their military training.

• Program Philosophy:   Addictive behavior is not an isolated component of a person's life, but rather part of an integrated lifestyle that supports and promotes the addiction.  Therefore, when men join the Baltimore Station program, they are trained to adopt an entirely new way of looking at their lives, and are taught to take responsibility for their current lives and behavior.  Because the information and life skills taught at the Baltimore Station run counter to the lifestyles and beliefs of the drug culture, participants learn to assimilate to a new culture with healthier norms and values, and more productive actions and attitudes.

• Program Partnerships:   We have developed and maintain strong partnerships with a number of organizations that allow us to offer important resources - such as health care, education, employment, and rehabilitation - that exceed our program range.  Our cooperative arrangements include:  Cathedral House Reentry Programs, Genesis Jobs, MD Dept. of Vocational Rehabilitation, UMD Department of Family Medicine, Healthcare for the Homeless, HERO, Mercy Hospital, Episcopal Social Ministries, Jobs, Housing & Recovery, and the South Baltimore Learning Center.  In addition, we work closely with Veteran Administration facilities such as the VA Medical Centers in Baltimore, Perry Point, and Martinsburg, WV.

• Program Length:   Each participant is considered on an individual basis with regard to length of stay in the program.  We do not want a participant to leave before his is ready; it is also important that the program does not become another form of codependence.  The successful participant typically stays for twelve to eighteen months.  Whereas most facilities in Baltimore do not provide a twenty-four month stay, our program uniquely allow residents who need extra time to extend their stay up to twenty-four months.

Our Innovative Program Design

The Baltimore Station program provides residential stability, the resources to increase skill levels, and the tools to assist men in learning to live lives of self-determination.  The three phases of our program design are:

• 28-Day Program (Months 1 to 2):   treats early recovery; offers drug and alcohol education; focuses on the short-term in order to identify the underlying causes of the addiction; and addresses health issues.

• Half-way House (Months 2 to 6):   focuses on living and life skills such as job readiness, budgeting, education and in-house chores; instructs on how to develop a network of support; and offers continuing life-adjustment education.

• Transitional Facility (Months 6 to 12, and up to 24 months):   provides a living environment with minimal supervision; requires residents to implement life skills, such as working, saving money and repairing/building broken relationships with family and friends; offers continuing life skills education; provides relapse prevention strategies and group support.