Two Catholic Charities Twin Cities programs that treat people with long-term alcohol use disorder through a harm reduction model of managed alcohol consumption are explored in a documentary titled “Wet House.” The film will be shown and discussed May 2 at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), and everyone is invited, said Mike Rios-Keating, Catholic Charities’ director of culture and belonging.

Catholic Charities is known for its ministry in St. Paul and Minneapolis to some 25,000 children, their families, and men and women each year who need housing, social services and employment assistance.

“When I think about the people we serve, I really think about the core tenets of Catholic social teaching,” Rios-Keating told “Practicing Catholic” radio show producer Kayla Mayer for a program debuting at 9 p.m. April 26. The four tenets, Rios-Keating said, are human dignity, community for the common good, rights and responsibilities.

“We believe that everyone deserves a dignified place to live, a dignified shelter,” Rios-Keating said. Veterans and young adults aging out of foster care are two populations that might struggle with housing, he said. “But one of those vulnerable populations would be individuals who are suffering from long-term alcohol use. And so, at Catholic Charities, we operate two managed alcohol programs,” Rios-Keating said. “One of them is the Glenwood Residence in Minneapolis and the other is the St. Anthony Residence in St. Paul. And these are providing homes for men, specifically men in these two cases with long-term alcohol use disorder.”

The harm-reduction facilities provide safe and supportive environments that include healthcare coordination, medication management and case management with structured goal planning, Rios-Keating said.

“(It’s) essentially meeting people where they are at, recognizing that completely abstaining from alcohol, in some cases of these men, has not worked,” he said. “Some folks have been through treatment. Some folks have never been through treatment. It’s about supporting them where they are.”

The residents are allowed to consume alcohol in the safety of their homes, “but again, coupled with working with case managers to self-identity changes that they want to make,” Rios-Keating said.

In addition, the Glenwood Residence and St. Anthony Residence provide the men with a safe home and community.

“They also have neighbors,” Rios-Keating said. “That’s why we think this model works. You not only have the support of staff, but you also have people you are able to build community with next door.”

Impact of the harm reduction model includes “success in so any ways, whether that be people moving out, whether that be people starting treatment, completing treatment,” Rios-Keating said. “And for some people, it’s just lowering their usage.”

Rios-Keating said his work aims to provide people with a dignified life.

“Clinical success varies from person to person,” he said. “But it can be and is such a place of dignity for folks to live near people they can grow in relationship with, where they don’t feel judged,” he said. “We believe everybody deserves a place to build community and to call home.”

Rios-Keating described the film, “Wet House,” as raw and gritty, and a way to enter some of the struggles and successes of the men who receive dignified care through the harm reduction model. It will be shown as part of Catholic Charities’ annual Spring Assembly from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Mia in Minneapolis.

RSVPs are required for the free event; go to event.

To learn which of the two residences has been around for 30 years, and to hear more from Rios-Keating about the positive community building at the residences, tune into “Practicing Catholic” at Relevant Radio 1330 AM. The show also repeats at 1 p.m. April 27 and 2 p.m. April 28.

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the program also includes Archbishop Bernard Hebda sharing his joyful anticipation of the May 25 priestly ordination of 13 men for the archdiocese, and Deacons Joseph Wappes and Michael Maloney as they prepare to be among the men ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.

Listen to interviews after they have aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.