Sober living homes are a place for recovering alcoholics to live independently, get back on the right track while they work full-time and support each other along the way.
In Pierre, opposition and concern surrounds one counseling organization's effort to establish a sober living home in a neighborhood just outside of the Pierre city limits.
The project follows the success of similar homes in Sioux Falls.
"It's cost-effective, it gets proven results and it's the humane and human thing to do to help our fellow man," Dennis Ford said.
Dennis Ford is the director of TLC Tallgrass, a treatment facility south of Sioux Falls. He says these types of homes are some of the most successful ways to help alcoholics recover.
The first sober living home was built back in 2003. Now, there are 5 of these homes in our community and they've helped nearly 500 people get back on the right track
Some neighbors, like those in Pierre, say they admit they were a little hesitant when these homes first opened.
"There's a general concern for what could possibly happen," Lezlie Larsen said.
Lezlie Larsen says, for her, that feeling has since gone away and now there's little reason to worry.
"It's a great idea to have a housing program like that because it helps them become part of the community. ," Lezlie Larsen said.
Ford knows the home opening in Pierre, next month, has raised concerns among neighbors there.
"I know exactly what they're thinking. It's scary to say I'm going to move alcoholics next door to me. However, if you have people who wish to recover, they've gotta start somewhere," Ford said.
He can only hope, wherever these homes are established, those who live around them can keep an open mind.
