News (Media Awareness Project) - US AZ: Residents Fight Rehab Home |
| Title: | US AZ: Residents Fight Rehab Home |
| Published On: | 2002-10-02 |
| Source: | Arizona Republic (AZ) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-08-29 14:37:28 |
RESIDENTS FIGHT REHAB HOME
SOUTH PHOENIX - Bill Freeman sees the handsome corner house near South
Mountain as the perfect spot for recovering female drug addicts to learn
parenting skills, find a job and home, and get counseling.
Resident Greg Person sees a different picture. A rehab center would raise
crime rates and lower property values, he and other residents complain.
"We understand there's a need for the services," Person said. "This
neighborhood is completely inappropriate."
But neighbors may have little say in Ebony House Inc.'s plans to bring a
group home to a house in the 8600 block of South 14th Street. Zoning allows
the non-profit agency to set up shop without a public hearing.
The only chance residents have for input is today when the City Council
votes to change the address for a pre-approved $250,000 Community
Development Block Grant for Ebony House, which will enable the agency to
buy the house.
Ebony House originally intended to use the grant to buy a different house,
but that owner decided not to sell.
The lack of a public hearing rankles Barbara Schneider, who chairs the
South Mountain Village Planning Committee.
"I think people should have a voice about what's happening in their
neighborhoods," Schneider said.
Both Freeman and Phoenix Councilman Mike Johnson said Ebony House won't
ruin the area, and pointed to Ebony's 13th Street and East Alta Vista Road
location as an example.
It houses 14 male recovering addicts, who stay a month or two, Freeman
said, adding that drug use is not tolerated.
A discreet, safe neighborhood is exactly what Freeman, Ebony House's chief
executive officer, wants.
"It is our desire, not only for the women, to afford our clients the
ability to go through a treatment setting in a nice environment," Freeman
said. "They are human beings also."
There's a need for residential services for female addicts. About 60 women
are on a waiting list yearly, according to ValueOptions, a mental health
firm that contracts with Maricopa County.
Freeman hopes to open the women's center in January.
SOUTH PHOENIX - Bill Freeman sees the handsome corner house near South
Mountain as the perfect spot for recovering female drug addicts to learn
parenting skills, find a job and home, and get counseling.
Resident Greg Person sees a different picture. A rehab center would raise
crime rates and lower property values, he and other residents complain.
"We understand there's a need for the services," Person said. "This
neighborhood is completely inappropriate."
But neighbors may have little say in Ebony House Inc.'s plans to bring a
group home to a house in the 8600 block of South 14th Street. Zoning allows
the non-profit agency to set up shop without a public hearing.
The only chance residents have for input is today when the City Council
votes to change the address for a pre-approved $250,000 Community
Development Block Grant for Ebony House, which will enable the agency to
buy the house.
Ebony House originally intended to use the grant to buy a different house,
but that owner decided not to sell.
The lack of a public hearing rankles Barbara Schneider, who chairs the
South Mountain Village Planning Committee.
"I think people should have a voice about what's happening in their
neighborhoods," Schneider said.
Both Freeman and Phoenix Councilman Mike Johnson said Ebony House won't
ruin the area, and pointed to Ebony's 13th Street and East Alta Vista Road
location as an example.
It houses 14 male recovering addicts, who stay a month or two, Freeman
said, adding that drug use is not tolerated.
A discreet, safe neighborhood is exactly what Freeman, Ebony House's chief
executive officer, wants.
"It is our desire, not only for the women, to afford our clients the
ability to go through a treatment setting in a nice environment," Freeman
said. "They are human beings also."
There's a need for residential services for female addicts. About 60 women
are on a waiting list yearly, according to ValueOptions, a mental health
firm that contracts with Maricopa County.
Freeman hopes to open the women's center in January.
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