HOWELL – Several citizens showed up to Howell’s Town Council meeting to express concern over sobriety houses that have been popping up near Reuben Court and the surrounding area.
These sobriety houses are started by private companies who have to get approval from the state of New Jersey to operate and their sole intent is supposed to be to provide a safe space to help those addicted to alcohol and drugs get clean.
It is not the function of these sobriety houses that spurred several residents to speak out in protest; it is the location of the houses. Three recovery houses are located within the immediate area of Reuben Court, with one at 4 Reuben Court, one at 371 Aldrich Road, and one at 17 Laurel Court, residents said.
“Let me begin by saying that we deeply respect the importance of recovery and the need for supportive housing in the journey towards rehabilitation. We recognize the critical role these homes play for individuals seeking a second chance. However, our concern is not with the concept of sober living itself. It is with the placement and regulation of such facilities within a tightly packed school centered residential neighborhood like ours,” said Inderdeep Kaur, one of the spokespeople for the group of concerned Howell citizens who took the podium during the public comment section of the Town Council meeting.
Reuben Court is located in a primarily residential area of Howell that is home to many young children and has six schools within the area of the recovery houses. Elementary schools such as Newbury, Land O’Pines, Taunton, Havenwood Montessori, Saint Veronica’s school and Genius Kids Academy were all named as being in close proximity to the recovery houses.
The State of New Jersey requires each sobriety house to be at least 1,000 feet away from another and at least 1,500 feet away from any schools in the area. According to Kaur, the three recovery homes are only a few houses apart from each other and are less than a mile from Havenwood Montessori, Newbury Elementary, Saint Veronica’s and Land O’Pines Elementary.
“When state regulations are overlooked, when families discover unlicensed recovery homes after they have already moved in, and when multiple facilities are permitted within walking distance of elementary schools, that is not oversight. That is a neglect sir,” said Kaur at the Town Council meeting.
According to Kaur, residents of the area tried to reach out to the government of Howell Township with their concerns. They were directed to contact the state of New Jersey, which in turn told them that the town government was responsible for the placement of these homes. In response to this back and forth, Kaur and other citizens of the area showed up to the Town Council meeting and handed the council members copies of ordinances that other towns have passed to ensure their citizens’ safety.
She also stated during her speech that none of the nearby residents received any notice of the sobriety houses being put into operation, and that residents of the nearby area have seen vehicles coming and going in the middle of the night despite sobriety houses having a strict curfew on their residents.
It was mentioned later in the meeting that the sobriety house on Reuben Court was approved by the fire bureau and was now eligible to be approved by the state, which had not been done already.
Mayor John Leggio mentioned at the end of the meeting that when it comes to the sober living homes picked by the state, the council’s hands are tied, but that they would, however, take a look at the other towns’ ordinances which were provided by the residents to see what they can do.
On the Friday after the Town Council meeting, several representatives from the state attempted to inspect the property but were refused entry by those inside the home at the time, according to Kaur. When neighbors asked about the situation, the state officials said that there was no record of a sobriety house already operating there.
