Quincy residents concerned about lack of oversight for new sober homes

QUINCY, Mass. — Residents of one Quincy neighborhood tell Boston 25 News they’re concerned about a new sober home that’s opening and the lack of regulations governing the facility.

Kerrie McLellan of Quincy said neighbors began noticing renovations at the home on Trask Avenue this summer, and that's when they learned the duplex will soon be an 11-bed sober home for recovering addicts.

"We found out a couple of weeks ago, largely by accident,” she said. "There's largely no process with sober homes. Sober homes are unregulated."

In Massachusetts, sober homes don't require a permit, there's no public hearing and anyone can start one up.

“I’ve got a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old. They're playing out here,” Mike Hanafin, whose home is next door to the new sober home, said. "I don't want them to grow up next to a sober home with 11 people that are coming off of heroin. It's just not the place that I want to raise my kids."

All the neighbors who spoke to Boston 25 News have children, but they say they also have compassion for the need of sober house in light of the opioid crisis. Still, they fear the lack of oversight.

Boston 25 News Investigative Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh contacted the operator of the sober home, Corey Cusick. He wasn't available in person, but over the phone said this will be called the 'Victor House.' He said he will go through voluntary state certification, and says he promises he's going to do this the right way.

Cusick said this venture on Trask Avenue will be the first time he's operated a sober home. He said the residents will have already gone through detox, and will have to adhere to certain protocols for the weekly room rental.

"That's not a typical rental. That's big business. And big business is regulated,” McLellan said.

The new sober housing on Trask Avenue isn’t the only one opening in the area.

Earlier this month, a city councilor sent residents this letter explaining that in just five months there have been five sober homes established in Quincy's Fourth Ward alone.

"This can happen anywhere. It can happen in any neighborhood, in any community at any time,” McClellan said. "We've got neighbors here who are really afraid."

Cox Media Group