STATE GOING ALL THE WAY IN CUTTING AID TO HALFWAY HOUSES

Broken washing machines, unpaid bills and belligerent residents are
all in a day's work for Chris Marlowe.

He's the only employee in a state program that monitors halfway houses
for people trying to kick drugs and alcohol.

State funding for his position dries up on June 30. About 100
residents, many fresh out of rehab or psychiatric wards, will be left
to fend for themselves, said Marlowe, a recovering alcoholic who lives
in Greenville.

"A part of me wants to quit, but then I've got people telling me, 'No,
Chris, fight 'em,'" he said. "We're afraid if we walk away from this
we won't be able to start it up again."

Marlowe's $85,680 contract was one of several cut due to the state's
financial woes, said John Hart, a spokesman for the state Department
of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.

Eliminating Marlowe's position ends state financial support to the
houses, Hart said. Other halfway houses have survived on their own, he
said.

"We think it's a gamble worth taking because of the strength of the
houses," he said.

Marlowe oversees 12 Palmetto Houses, including five in Greenville
County and two in Anderson County.

About six to eight residents live in each house, but taking an
official tally is difficult because turnover is high, Marlowe said.
Ten houses are for men, two for women.

Residents pay their own bills and govern themselves. Houses are
leased. Drugs, alcohol, pets and overnight guests are prohibited. New
residents don't need a job when they move in, but loafing isn't tolerated.

Joe Altman, who moved into a Greenville house after struggling with
alcohol and cocaine, said Marlowe helped guide residents when someone
was caught pilfering the house account.

"These houses would fall to pieces without someone overseeing
everything," Altman said.

It takes an 80 percent vote to admit a new member to a house, and a 50
percent vote to kick a member out. Each house elects officers - a
president, treasurer, secretary, comptroller and chore
coordinator.

No state money goes into the houses, except for Marlowe's salary and
expenses.

Marlowe said he takes a $36,000 salary and uses the rest of the money
for traveling and telephone bills.

When Marlowe is gone, the state will be able to provide some guidance
to the residents, Hart said.

The hope is that local alcohol and drug commissions will also be able
to help, he said. But oversight won't be as intense as Marlowe's
program, Hart said.

The contract is overseen by Anderson/Oconee Behavioral Health
Services.

Executive director Karen Beck said the houses will either become
stronger or fail when Marlowe is gone.

"I think the concept of the program is very good," she said. "It's
something that needs to be out there to help our recovering community."

Marlowe said he sobered up in a Charleston halfway house similar to
the ones he oversees. He's since helped start 30 statewide. Some are
now overseen by a private company.

Marlowe said he hasn't turned off his pager in 10 years, and his heart
skips a beat when it beeps.

"I don't get invited to the party," he said. "I get invited when the
roof is on fire."