Suffolk law would create approved sober homes

Suffolk legislators want a new county law to create a network of approved sober homes for people in recovery, but many of the legal, political and practical obstacles of recent years remain to be worked out.

The proposed law would direct the county Department of Social Service to oversee a list of organizations and private owners who "operate safe, effective, drug-free sober homes." Right now, there are more than an estimated 100 sober homes in Suffolk. Under the proposed law, only those who qualify for this network would get county-paid rents and food subsidies, which currently average about $400 a month.

While some sober homes are well run, county officials say, the new law attempts to stop a largely unregulated atmosphere with "many sober homes that are operated irresponsibly, creating dangerous living conditions in which crimes occur and residents frequently relapse into addiction."

The proposed law follows a series of public hearings and a long-standing legal battle over the problems of sober homes in Suffolk. In February, a federal judge struck down a 2003 Suffolk law designed to regulate sober homes because it illegally discriminated against those in recovery and violated federal fair housing law by setting up a number of restrictions before a home could be approved - including a limit of six residents per home and requiring an on-site manager to always be present.

The proposed law doesn't contain any of these restrictions. Proponents of the new measure say thousands of dollars are currently collected by owners at many poorly run sober homes, where there is little or no available treatment to residents who have already received expensive acute care at hospitals and other facilities, often at taxpayer expense.

"We cannot continue to focus on prevention and rehabilitation while ignoring the need for good recovery housing," said Legis. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley), joined by several state and county officials at a news conference preceding Thursday's introduction of the new law, expected to be voted on by the full legislature Tuesday.

At a later public hearing, Suffolk Department of Social Services Commissioner Greg Blass expressed concern that his agency wouldn't be able to properly review the effectiveness of each sober home under such a new law. Coming up with an approved list of good sober homes would require an "expertise that we, at this time, lack," Blass said.

He and other county officials said the New York Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services is better equipped than the county to oversee sober homes on Long Island.

Another concern is whether any new county law attempting to oversee sober homes will conform to existing federal law and not violate the rights of those disabled by addiction, said Robert Briglio, one of the attorneys who won a legal challenge to the previous Suffolk law in federal court.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," said Briglio, who reviewed Suffolk's new proposed law but said many of its details have yet to be ironed out on an everyday basis. "It's important to live in a safe environment and the county seeks to refer people to good homes. But if they prevent these sober homes from operating, then it might mean another lawsuit."