Dr MARIA LUISA MARIN PUIG

Associació Rauxa (rauxa means creative impuls),

Dr Rizal 14, Barcelona she started a smal house clinic 17 years ago with a social worker and some friends, a few years later budget came; not continuously because they had times staff could not be paid homeless alcoholics are main clients to be found on the streets and to be brought to the house to get a bed, food, clothing, social and medical work and to join the daily house activities as much as possible; they are reconstructing rooms to host more clients, construction mostly performed by (ex) clients

130 people are assisted per year in this great setting, small drop out, small relapse rate they have a strong treatment focus on nicotine abstinence as well, since a high rate of cancer has killed many of their patients they openened a small restaurant La Tarrasseta (see photo), where (ex)clients work, clean and serve food to 152 homeless persons every day in three shifts ( their coffee is excellent) homeless persons can come and get free food for three days and for more food they have to meet with social work to make a plan.

Maria Luisa is like the mother of her house clinic and is a real hero to me and all the people i met out there she and her team received an award for their work and were visited by the queen of spain, she is a great lady, see photo with three people, Dr Maria Luisa on the right, queen in the middle. If my spanish was good i would have understood more of the great sense of humour she has, because many folks were laughing when she was there the minute she walked in they need support with medical staff because no (young) doctors are to be found to join their great work, so Dr Maria Luisa could spent some time to write about her experience and collect data over the last 17 years, a great follow up by one doctors to know how about 1000 people are doing today, and how many have died as well;

  I think their devoted staff and their files contain precious data that should be published; the results and lessons could be very informative for all of us and should not be neglected