PART I OF THE BOOK DISCUSSES THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE RECENT HOSTEL MOVEMENT AS A REACTION AGAINST LARGE INSTITUTIONS, THE AIMS OF SMALL HOSTELS IN PROVIDING SOCIAL INFLUENCE, VARIATIONS IN HOSTEL ORGANIZATION, AND PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR SMALL HOSTELS. PART II REPORTS ON AN INTENSIVE STUDY OF TWO SMALL ALCOHOLISM HOSTELS WHICH WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE MID 1960'S AND LOCATED IN SOUTH LONDON. INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ARE DISCUSSIONS ON THE RESEARCH METHOD EMPLOYED AT THE TWO HOSTELS, THE REFERRAL AND SELECTION OF RESIDENTS AND STAFF, EVERYDAY HOUSE ROUTINES, THE STABILITY AND ATMOSPHERE AT THE HOUSES, THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS, A DESCRIPTION COVERING 10 MONTHS AT THE HOUSES, THE SHORT TERM EFFECTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. A SUMMARY IS PRESENTED AT THE END OF EACH DISCUSSION. APPENDIXES CONTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF THE STAFF INTERVIEW, THE INITIAL RESIDENT INTERVIEW, THE SUBSEQUENT RECURRING RESIDENT INTERVIEW, AND INTERACTION RECORDINGS OF HOUSE MEETINGS. THE FINAL APPENDIX CONTAINS INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ADDRESSED TO STAFF MEMBERS IN CHARGE OF THE ALCOHOLISM HOSTELS IN LONDON. REFERENCES, AN AUTHOR INDEX, A SUBJECT INDEX, AND TABULAR MATERIAL ARE PRESENTED.