Warsaw Zoners Approve Variance For Third Men's Recovery Home
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals approved the variance to allow a recovery home in a residentially zoned neighborhood at 504 E. Center St. It is within 3,000 feet of Serenity House, an existing recovery home, at 622 E. Fort Wayne St.
Recovery homes are required by ordinance to be separated by at least 3,000 feet, according to Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner.
Hoss Smith, Serenity House manager, spoke in support of the request for a third men’s recovery home during Monday’s meeting.
Scott Smith, attorney for Scott Smith Attorney at Law, also spoke about the positive impact the non-profit group Serenity House has had on his clients.
Hoss said Serenity House opened its first recovery home in 2006 at 622 E. Fort Wayne St., and a second home opened in 2009 at 2016 E. Market St. There also is one recovery home for women in Auburn and two homes in the town for men.
Hoss said the existing homes will continue to be in operation, but a third home is needed in Warsaw as space is running low to house men who need a place to stay.
“I have had to turn away men who want to live in the homes on a daily basis because there is not enough room to house additional men in the existing homes,” Hoss said.
Hoss said over the last 8 years, he believes Serenity House has made a large impact on the community.
Hoss said the Fort Wayne Street home currently houses 16 men, and the Market Street home houses 12 men. The goal is for the third home on Center Street to house an additional 16 men.
“I believe the third house will take a lot of that burden away from individuals I have had to turn away and we may be able to help those next individuals coming in,” Hoss said.
Hoss said he hopes to oversee the third home as well as continuing to operate the other homes, and it would not necessarily be a Serenity House home unless the board decides to operate it.
There is a mortgage on the home that would need to be paid.
“I don’t know if Serenity House wants to take on the debt of opening another home,” Hoss said.
Hoss said funding will not be an issue for the purchase of the home as there are people who have expressed interest in providing financial support.
Scott spoke about how Serenity House has impacted his clients. Hesaid as an attorney he comes in contact with clients who have issues involving alcohol or the use of drugs.
Scott said one of the things he has noticed in dealing with these cases is that there is a revolving door.
“You see people going into the system, they do whatever they are supposed to, they get back out and they’re right back at it,” Scott said.
He said what is happening is that they are not getting the help they need through the criminal justice system because that is not what it is designed to do.
He said this causes problems for those experiencing addictions to drugs and alcohol and affects their families and the community.
“When we get these individuals into Serenity House it gives them something to work on and gives them an opportunity to get away from the use of alcohol or drugs,” Scott said.
He said the group also gives the individuals the tools they need once they complete the program to make sure they are not going back through the revolving door.
Scott said he had a client who completed the Serenity House program who had numerous charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and Serenity House gave the client the help he needed.
Scott said he has a client who is currently waiting to get into Serenity House, but is not able due to lack of space.
“Serenity House has had a positive impact on my client’s lives, their family, friends and the community,” Scott said.
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Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals approved the variance to allow a recovery home in a residentially zoned neighborhood at 504 E. Center St. It is within 3,000 feet of Serenity House, an existing recovery home, at 622 E. Fort Wayne St.
Recovery homes are required by ordinance to be separated by at least 3,000 feet, according to Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner.
Hoss Smith, Serenity House manager, spoke in support of the request for a third men’s recovery home during Monday’s meeting.
Scott Smith, attorney for Scott Smith Attorney at Law, also spoke about the positive impact the non-profit group Serenity House has had on his clients.
Hoss said Serenity House opened its first recovery home in 2006 at 622 E. Fort Wayne St., and a second home opened in 2009 at 2016 E. Market St. There also is one recovery home for women in Auburn and two homes in the town for men.
Hoss said the existing homes will continue to be in operation, but a third home is needed in Warsaw as space is running low to house men who need a place to stay.
“I have had to turn away men who want to live in the homes on a daily basis because there is not enough room to house additional men in the existing homes,” Hoss said.
Hoss said over the last 8 years, he believes Serenity House has made a large impact on the community.
Hoss said the Fort Wayne Street home currently houses 16 men, and the Market Street home houses 12 men. The goal is for the third home on Center Street to house an additional 16 men.
“I believe the third house will take a lot of that burden away from individuals I have had to turn away and we may be able to help those next individuals coming in,” Hoss said.
Hoss said he hopes to oversee the third home as well as continuing to operate the other homes, and it would not necessarily be a Serenity House home unless the board decides to operate it.
There is a mortgage on the home that would need to be paid.
“I don’t know if Serenity House wants to take on the debt of opening another home,” Hoss said.
Hoss said funding will not be an issue for the purchase of the home as there are people who have expressed interest in providing financial support.
Scott spoke about how Serenity House has impacted his clients. Hesaid as an attorney he comes in contact with clients who have issues involving alcohol or the use of drugs.
Scott said one of the things he has noticed in dealing with these cases is that there is a revolving door.
“You see people going into the system, they do whatever they are supposed to, they get back out and they’re right back at it,” Scott said.
He said what is happening is that they are not getting the help they need through the criminal justice system because that is not what it is designed to do.
He said this causes problems for those experiencing addictions to drugs and alcohol and affects their families and the community.
“When we get these individuals into Serenity House it gives them something to work on and gives them an opportunity to get away from the use of alcohol or drugs,” Scott said.
He said the group also gives the individuals the tools they need once they complete the program to make sure they are not going back through the revolving door.
Scott said he had a client who completed the Serenity House program who had numerous charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and Serenity House gave the client the help he needed.
Scott said he has a client who is currently waiting to get into Serenity House, but is not able due to lack of space.
“Serenity House has had a positive impact on my client’s lives, their family, friends and the community,” Scott said.
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