The speaker at the monthly awards meeting told an interesting and dramatic story. He described the years he'd lived on the streets of Los Angeles as "a skid row bum."

To watch him speak, however, one would never guess his background. He spoke eloquently, with a smile and enthusiasm. He wore clean, pressed clothing. His whole bearing and demeanor belied his history. He could easily have been a sale representative for a major corporation. The audience followed every word intently, some leaning forward to not miss a word.

When I see such demonstrations of recovery I realize TLC is an effective program. There aren’t many places in America where this man could have gone - with no money up front - and achieve his success. Here's a man who hasn't been sober long, maybe less than a year. He survived the hard concrete of the unforgiving Los Angeles skid row. Yet he’s standing in front of sixty other alcoholics and addicts speaking with charisma about the recovery process.

Because TLC is a non-professional, peer-driven program, each of today’s managers was once a TLC client. Our “each one teach one” philosophy allows us to run the program at less cost than those offering professional counselors, therapists or doctors. Our managers worked their way up through the ranks by volunteering and learning to run peer groups, maintain property, help newcomers find jobs, and provide emotional support. There is much evidence that peer counseling, in the case of substance abusers, is as effective as any other.

The speaker at the monthly awards meeting is a good example of the effectiveness of the TLC program.