I was a staff member at the Ovis Farm Project in Devon, England, for three years. The Project is run on the Therapeutic Community model.The Therapeutic Community is a self help approach to treatment for people with addiction and related problems. It is a drug-free environment in which people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction are able to live together in an organized and structured way. The aim is to promote change and make possible a drug-free life in the community when they move on.1. The values of a Therapeutic CommunityThe Therapeutic Community believes that people can change and creates an environment that helps to facilitate change. The Therapeutic Community allows a person to grow by fostering an environment where people are valued and accepted.A strong sense of belonging to a nurturing community in an atmosphere of trust and security, is a central tenet of the therapeutic community. Members of the therapeutic community need to take responsibility for themselves, others and their environment.Members of the community must be positively motivated to change, and to accept the communitrules.
These rules uphold the values and norms of the community, which are a reflection
of those held by society.Therapeutic Community principles can be applied to the therapeutic care of a wide range of people2. The Physical Environment of a TCSome Therapeutic Communities operate in closed systems like a prison or, say, a nursing home for people recovering from mental illnesses. The residents of these, and similar institutions, may not have a say in whether they enter in institution, but they are generally able to volunteer for the Therapeutic Community. In a prison that operates this model, a separate wing may be used.Therapeutic Communities operate in purpose-built structures, as well as a range of converted buildings such as schools, churches, or a farm. The size, grounds and design of facilities also vary, but are generally adapted to the types of educational and vocational training offered by the Therapeutic Community. At Ovis Farm the residents were able to work with the farm manager on the work element of the programme. This probably represented one day each week. In its way, it was a unique feature that this project could offer because of its location.The residential capacity of a Therapeutic Community program commonly ranges from 50 – 150 residents. An ideal size is often described to be in the range of 80 – 120 residents. This suits big institutions but in recent years the Therapeutic Community model has been applied to smaller groups, like Ovis Farm, of maybe a dozen residents.Therapeutic communities are generally open environments where residents choose voluntarily to live for a period of 6 to 12 months, and in some cases, longer. Although strict limits are placed on residents’ comings and goings, residents who comply with all house rules and programme requirements may gradually earn privileges to leave the facility through day, overnight or weekend passes, particularly to visit parents, partners or children.The key interior spaces in a Therapeutic Community consist of areas where the operational, educational, and therapeutic activities of the program are held. Common spaces include lounges, training rooms, the dining room, and kitchen. Private spaces include administrative offices and conference rooms. The residents have their own private rooms, and some staff may live on site.3. The Social EnvironmentResidents take on more responsibility as they learn the concepts of the Therapeutic Community and are able to help fellow residents. It is their understanding and application of the Therapeutic Community concepts that gives a resident more responsibility, not the length of their residency. In this way, the group or peer dynamic is a persuasive influence on residents’ desire to become more responsible and accountable.Residents take on supervisory responsibility in the different departments in the community. For example, one may oversee the kitchens to ensure that the necessary provisions are ordered each week to fill the menu requirements. They would also ensure that the hygiene standards are met, and to help others prepare meals for the community. Another resident may look after the grounds or maintenance work.4. Resident ProfileMost residents of Therapeutic Communities are considered to have hit ‘rock bottom’ whether they voluntarily enter a community or arrive through the criminal justice system. Many residents have been drug addicted for years and have a history of criminal activity or other legal problems. Although many residents arrive with a host of health related problems, most Therapeutic Communities stipulate that residents must be healthy enough to undertake physical labour and participate in training programmes and other group-related activities.The admission process for Therapeutic Community residents should be rigorous. It typically involves an initial visit or phone call, admission to a waiting list, an orientation process, one or more intake interviews, and in many cases, medical, legal and psychological assessments, and consent to treatment. A thorough initial assessment may help reduce the drop out rate which is most critical during the first 30 days.5. Staff ProfileStaff participate as members of the community. Staff often share everyday tasks with the residents, as well as facilitate group meetings and one to one sessions. Staff are able to express their own reactions to events and situations, and accept challenge or criticism from residents. Many staff members in the smaller communities may have been former residents. In this way the traditional ‘them and us’ split between professionals and service users is broken down. This helps to develop a sense of trust and intimacy enabling residents to experience different relationships with authority or parental figures. Staff and senior residents are also able to act as role models, by being open and honest. This carries the risk of staff becoming over-involved, which makes staff supervision essential in this way of working.6. Education and TrainingThe elements of treatment at the Therapeutic Community typically include addiction treatment, education, primary medical and dental care, vocational skills training (e.g. cooking skills, carpentry, general maintenance, and computer skills), on- and off-site job placement, and in rare cases, on-site resident-run businesses. Christian run Therapeutic Communities will give some opportunity for residents to address their spiritual needs but will not insist that residents are Christians when they enter, or that they become Christians during their stay.7. The Daily TimetableResidents can expect a highly structured and demanding daily routine within the Therapeutic Community. The typical day includes a 6:30 or 7:00 AM wake-up call, morning and evening house meetings, job functions, therapeutic groups, life skill seminars, vocational training sessions, some personal time, recreation, and individual counselling when necessary.Weekend schedules are somewhat less demanding, although Saturday mornings may be taken with group meetings. A Christian run Therapeutic Community may have a commitment to attend a church service on Sundays. This is not just a spiritual consideration, it allows members of the Therapeutic Community an opportunity to increase their support network and generally meet positive people outside of their usual peer groups.Structure and routine are integral to the daily running of the Therapeutic Community8. Moving OnThe most important part of any recovery programme is probably preparing the resident for ‘re-entry’ into the community. This term sounds a bit like a space craft returning to the earth’s atmosphere. In some ways, this is a sound metaphor. If this is not done correctly the resident can burn up and disintegrate rapidly.Some Therapeutic Communities insist that no resident leaves the program without a full-time job including a place to live and a support network. Family reconciliation is often incorporated into re-entry. Maintaining a drug free lifestyle often means learning more coping skills so it is recognized that moving on is a transitional process. One of the supports most commonly identified as essential to resident success once they leave the Therapeutic Community is transitional housing (a half way house) and affordable longer term housing. This is a major obstacle in the UK (and many other countries) due to lack of good basic accommodation. Many Therapeutic Communities find creative ways of organizing this.

Have you made up your mind to start investing in real estate, but you’re torn in deciding where to invest?Are you thinking about making a local investment, but wondering if an out-of-state investment might be better?This is one of the first of many choices you’ll have to make when you decide to invest in real estate: the simple question of where you should invest your hard-earned dollars. While there are definite benefits to investing in your area, there are also some potentially profit-limiting downsides.That’s not to say investing in outside areas doesn’t have its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at both and see why out-of-state real estate investing might be a profitable option you have not yet explored.Investing LocallyThis is the most obvious choice for many real estate investors, but is it really right for you?If you choose to buy a property local to you, you’ll rest easier about your investment since you know the market. First, you know your competition. You might know the names of professionals you can trust and you’ll have an intimate understanding of what the cost of living is for that area and how to make things more affordable.Second, if you like to be hands-on, it will be much easier for you since you’re right there. If you want to see the property, it’s just a short drive away. If you want to talk to the property manager face-to-face, you just put it on your calendar for the end of the day.Drawbacks to Local InvestmentsOn the other hand, investing solely local can narrow your options. Not every market has the inventory of good investment opportunities that you can avail yourself of if you invest out-of-state. The local inventory of available properties may or may not be big enough or well-suited for investment opportunities.You also run into the problem of whether your local market is the one you want. The recession made a huge impact on housing markets throughout the country and some areas have recovered at different paces than others. You might find yourself out-priced in your current market, but even if you aren’t, you might not be able to see a favorable future where you’re at.Investing Out-of-StateIf you decide to invest out-of-state, you can greatly increase your options. You can literally choose any location, any market and invest in properties there. Whether you want to invest in Florida vacation homes and coastal villas or homes in the suburbs of Detroit, the sky’s the limit. You can make your investment fit your price point and interests.By investing out-of-state, you can put your money to work in markets with high ROI. You pick and choose which markets you’re interested in, and which ones are rising stars in the real estate investment scene, ignoring your own market’s changes.Investing out-of-state also allows you to scale based on your needs. For many would-be investors, their local market is priced too extravagantly to make real estate investment prudent. The cost of living in a different state, just a few borders east or west, might be considerably lower. That means you can snatch up excellent properties at a much lower cost than you might in your own market.Even better, you can snag those investment deals on excellent properties that would go for three to four times as much, if not more, in your own local market. Your purchasing power becomes much stronger in other markets, because everything’s relative.Challenges of Out-of-State InvestmentsThere are still some challenges to these remote investments. First of all, you have to learn who you can trust and maintain the peace of mind that comes from having easy local access to your investment. You also have to be able to trust that the property you’re investing in is what it’s advertised as.The property is also more difficult to visit if you like to be hands on. You might have to fly out to visit the property, which some people enjoy but others are seriously bothered by. If you are the type of investor who prefers the more passive turn-key approach, this is an excellent opportunity.Finally, the market won’t be what you’re used to. Nothing will be quite the same as being there and immersing yourself in the market, but you can learn and study. You just have to rely on someone else to have knowledge of the nuances of the market.Doing Out-of-State RightThere is a solution to all of the challenges of real estate investing outside your state. When you find a reputable, proven company to handle your turn-key real estate transaction, you have someone you can count on to know the market you’re investing in. Here are the main reasons you should find a partner to work with you on your out-of-state investments.

They can keep a more educated eye on the market, since they know all of the nuances of that area.

They’ll serve as your presence near your investment, keeping everything on track, so you don’t have to make numerous trips to the property.

If the turn-key real estate investment firm is reputable, they want you to succeed. This means they’ll do anything they can to make sure you do succeed.
The question becomes, whom can you trust? You want to make sure you engage in a partnership with a firm who is reputable, knowledgeable and engaged in your market. Referrals from other investors are key, so be on the lookout for like-minded people who have been there and done that.You should also investigate what the turn-key operation offers you, and what their fee or cut of your profit is. Ideally, you’ll want a partner who can help you throughout your investment lifecycle, from acquiring the property to managing it.Getting StartedWe’ve gone over the benefits and drawbacks of out-of-state investing, so now the decision is yours to make. Do you still want to invest locally or have you realized that the time is ripe to diversify your portfolio and invest in out-of-state properties? The benefits of out-of-state real estate investment are huge and the drawbacks can easily be mitigated by partnering with someone in the area in which you’re investing.