Once an addict himself, Tom Vickers, owner of the local recovery and halfway houses that have sparked some concern with local residents as of late, says such facilities are needed to give people a second chance at becoming productive citizens.
“Probably seven out of 10 families in the United States are effected by alcohol and drugs,” Vickers pointed out when he spoke to the city board of mayor and aldermen Monday night. “It touched me personally because years ago I got addicted to opiates after a car wreck.”
Vickers was able to fight his personal demons and has been clean for 10 years. That is one reason he started running rehab and half-way houses in DeKalb County back in 2011.
“We’ve seen approximately 2,000 people,” he said of the six houses he runs which currently are the residences of 50 to 60 people. “They come from different places, treatment centers, hospitals, homeless veterans and some come from jails.”
Vickers pointed out that those coming from jail and prison are still under the supervision of parole officers who do regular checks. The facilities run by Vickers also send the parole officers updates on the people who are at the halfway and treatment houses.
“They are drug tested randomly, often a couple times a month unless there’s some kind of suspicion,” Vickers said, noting a failed drug test means discharge from his facility although he will try to get that resident into a treatment center to help them with their addiction.
Vickers pointed out that all but six or seven of his current residents have jobs. Those who don’t or cannot help with Haven of Hope to do volunteer work to benefit the community.
“The majority of people we deal with aren’t from DeKalb County,” Vickers revealed, noting that local residents don’t have a track record of doing well in one of his facilities so close to their hometown.
As for rules, Vickers said for the first 90 days at the halfway house, residents aren’t allowed to walk anywhere by themselves. “Where ever they go, they got somebody with them.”
Vickers noted that not all people seen walking about the streets are his residents, noting that transients and drug addicts who are not getting support are the ones the public should worry about. Those in his facilities, he noted, are getting supervision and structure and, for those on parole, can be sent back to jail if they fall short of the mark.
The mayor and board thanked Vickers for his appearance, agreeing his work is important to helping people return to society.
