Advocate calls for recovery homes in Warrenton after point-in-time count; city asked to clarify rules that have deterred providers

Jane Kelly, a volunteer with Warren County Fragile and Homeless and Anchor House, told the Warrenton Board of Aldermen on April 15 that regional point-in-time homelessness data underscore a local need for recovery homes and clearer city rules to allow them to operate.

Kelly said the countywide point-in-time count identified 87 newly found homeless individuals and that roughly 72% of the county’s counted people were in Warrenton. She said national and state research suggest the average public cost of homelessness for one person in a community can be about $35,000 per year and urged the city to examine local economic impacts.

Kelly described a recovery home as a single-family residence managed under strict rules and supervision for people exiting detox and early rehabilitation. She said typical homes often house multiple people who pay weekly rent and follow curfews and program rules; providers are frequently former residents who operate at narrow margins, not as profit-making businesses.

Kelly said prospective providers had been deterred by inconsistent local guidance: they were told in prior contacts that no more than three unrelated people could occupy a house, that recovery homes would be treated as commercial boarding homes, or that additional requirements such as sprinklers or frequent inspections would apply. She asked the board to review the city’s zoning and permitting guidance to align it with federal fair-housing protections for people recovering from substance-use disorders.

Board members and staff asked clarifying questions. Officials noted Compass Health (federally funded community behavioral-health provider in the area) and opioid-grant funding as possible supports, and Kelly said some opioid-related grants can help cover deposits or temporary costs while a recovery home becomes established.

Kelly asked the city to give “clarity” on how recovery homes will be treated going forward and said that a vetted, well-run local home could help reduce the county’s visible homelessness over time. She recommended engaging recovery-home legal resources (she referenced the Missouri Coalition of Recovery Service Providers and an attorney contact) to guide any local ordinance revisions.