Part of Kim’s campaign platform is requiring clean and sober houses to have business licenses. Can you each explain your understanding of these houses, their role in the community, their role as neighbors, and if requiring a business license means zoning these programs out of Eureka? If you would reform or replace these programs, please describe.

— Virginia Damron

Response

Kim Bergel

Thank you for the question Virginia.  Clean and sober houses must be regulated.  I have talked with many people who have lived in these places.  One woman I talked to pays $350 for a room, above her a family of 5 live in a room for $600. There are 2 ovens in the home, 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs, neither work.  The PGE has been shut off 3 different times once for 2 days because the owner didn’t pay the bill.  His reasoning was that he hadn’t received rents and if they wanted to complain they could find another place to live.  People wanting to better themselves through recovery from addiction often begin that process with not much self esteem.  Some landlords take full advantage of the situation much like the one I mentioned above. I believe there is a need for “clean and sober” living, transitional housing for people who are trying to better their lives and live a different way.  The problem is predatory landlords with the justification “no one else will rent to them.”  In our city there are some legitimate housing with truly clean and sober people running the house. For these houses it is not about stuffing as many people as you can into a home for profit.  It is about legitimate concern and a desire for a successful transition. I would not suggest zoning these programs out of the city, however,  I do believe neighbors should be notified before the process begins.  I have a house just up the street from me that none of the neighbors were notified about.  Transparency is important.   With regulations and codes in place we can empower people to be more successful.

 

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