Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recovery Residences topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prodigal Road Ministries asks Kerrville council to exempt TROAN-accredited recovery residences from group-home rules
Summary
A representative of Prodigal Road Ministries asked council to amend the city's group-home ordinance to exempt recovery residences accredited by the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROAN), citing state guidance and the group's national accreditation.
At the Jan. 28, 2025 Kerrville City Council meeting, Anthony Farmer, executive director of Prodigal Road Ministries, asked the council to add an exemption for accredited recovery residences to the city's group-home ordinance.
Farmer said his Genesis House men’s residential program had achieved accreditation through the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network (TROAN) and that state law recognition should distinguish accredited recovery residences from group homes. He told the council the accreditation process required extensive policy, procedural and financial documentation and regular evaluations.
“Specifically, we're asking that recovery residences that are accredited through the Texas Recovery Oriented Housing Network, or TROAN for short, that they be exempted from the group home ordinance,” Farmer said. He added the home is a “structured environment” where residents typically stay six to 12 months and that the accreditation process required producing a “270 something page document with policies and procedures.”
Farmer said he had followed up by email with city staff and that Mike Hayes recommended bringing the request to council. He asked the council to designate staff to move the issue forward or to add an exemption to the ordinance to encourage other homes to seek accreditation.
Why it matters: Accreditation distinguishes recovery residences that employ peer governance and health-protective practices from other congregate facilities, Farmer said, and an exemption could reduce duplicate oversight by city rules and state-recognized accreditation.
Council did not take formal action on the request during the meeting; Farmer asked for either staff assignment or a direct ordinance amendment. Staff members present acknowledged receipt of prior emails from Farmer and confirmed the request had been referred to the council for consideration.
Ending: Farmer offered to share accreditation materials with staff and council and said he would follow up with city staff about next steps.
