Nassau DA probes safety of sober homes

Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice has launched an investigation into so-called sober homes, following a Newsday / News 12 report that the publicly funded facilities often create unsafe living conditions for their residents.

Rice said her Government and Consumer Frauds Bureau is investigating.

"Those who receive tax dollars to provide housing for those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction have an obligation to provide facilities conducive to recovery," Rice said. "Reports that some of these facilities have devolved into overcrowded, unsafe, taxpayer-funded drug dens are deeply disturbing."

A Newsday / News 12 Long Island investigation published Wednesday reported that about 200 sober homes on Long Island form a publicly subsidized cottage industry that serves recovering addicts looking for affordable housing.

Experts told Newsday that many of the homes have few or no ties to certified treatment programs, and said some are also plagued by overcrowding, crime and unsafe conditions.

A spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota did not return calls Wednesday seeking comment.

Suffolk Legis. Kate M. Browning (WF-Shirley), who has been working toward reforms in government oversight of sober houses, said she is pleased to hear that Rice is taking action. Browning has said there are more than a dozen sober homes in her Brookhaven district.

"I'm thrilled Kathleen Rice is doing this," she said, adding that she would like to know more about how sober house landlords are paid, and what they claim on their tax forms. "I've spent a number of years pushing for the state to regulate."

Sober homes are not subject to any government or professional regulation, a Suffolk panel stated in its May 2010 report.

"Instead, greedy absentee landlords run many sober homes at the expense of their fragile residents, local communities and Suffolk taxpayers," the report said.

Since the report was published, a newly enacted Suffolk law has created an oversight board designed to encourage more well-run sober homes with ties to a licensed treatment program, rather than crack down on mismanaged ones. No legislation has been passed on the issue in Nassau.

Rice asks anyone with information regarding criminal activity at sober homes to call her office at 516-571-3505.