No power. No water. State shuts down illegal Lexington sober living home
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- State investigators found an uncertified Buckhorn Drive sober home and closed it.
- Officials relocated four residents after reports of no power, no water at site.
- New Lexington ordinance requires state certification and limits recovery home size.
Kentucky officials have shut down a sober living home on Buckhorn Drive after discovering the home was not licensed by the state and residents complained there was no power or water.
Kendra Steele, a spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said after the Herald-Leader asked questions about the sober living home, state officials investigated and found the recovery home was not licensed or certified by the state, which is required.
“DBHDID, (Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities) located the property that was referenced and notified the operator of its violation and that all residents must be moved immediately to new location(s),” Steele said last week.
DBHDID, a division of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, has oversight over sober living homes. The homes are typically used by people leaving inpatient treatment. Medicaid, a state-federal insurance program for low-income and people with disabilities, can be billed for sober living services.
“All four residents who were residing at the property have been offered other placement,” Steele said.
The Herald-Leader was contacted by a resident of the home the week of Nov. 24 who said the home in the 3500 block of Buckhorn Drive had no power or water for several days. An eviction notice had been placed on the door sometime that week, the resident said.
The home is registered to Great Neighbors. Officials with Great Neighbors could not be located for comment.
Under state law, sober living or recovery homes operating in Kentucky must hold valid certification or be in an approved provisional period.
If a residence is operating without certification or is unable to maintain safe living conditions, the department can take action up to and including requiring the operator to cease operations, Steele said.
“When we become aware of a potential uncertified or unsafe residence, we verify its status and follow up directly with the operator. If a closure is required, the operator is responsible for ensuring residents have a transition plan and access to alternative housing options,” Steele said.
Lexington passes sober living home ordinance
The proliferation of sober living homes prompted the city of Lexington to pass an ordinance in November requiring the homes to be licensed or certified by the state in addition to being licensed by the city.
The local ordinance also limits the number of people in a recovery home to eight.
The city passed the ordinance after receiving repeated complaints from neighborhoods about sober living homes popping up with no notice. Some neighbors have grumbled the homes have little or no oversight. Others have questioned if the homes are monitoring residents’ sobriety.
Operators and those who live in recovery homes say the model has helped them stay sober and return to work.
The new ordinance, passed by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council on Nov. 20, has a six-month grace period to allow recovery residences to come into compliance. The new local rules will take effect in May.
