Residents urge council not to restrict recovery homes; council to review ordinance at work session

Several residents told the Altoona City Council during public comment that a proposed ordinance regulating recovery houses could discriminate against people in recovery and worsen homelessness.

"I'm a mother that lost. I watched my son suffer for many years and follow through a failed system," said Mary Ann Cenisi of Families United for Change, who urged the council to "open our hearts and our minds" and to avoid targeting people in recovery. Cenisi cited Pastor John Gray as an example of a local provider whose properties are close together and argued that similar clustering can aid mutual support among residents.

Dan Casey, of 417 North 12th Avenue, said spacing requirements could tie the hands of operators such as Lisa Hamm and suggested adding a grandfather clause. Carol Taylor, a counselor with eight years' experience in substance-use services, said "recovery houses are a lower level of care" and warned that limiting housing options would increase homelessness among people trying to reintegrate and work.

Council members responded that they had received additional legal materials since last month's meeting and that staff will place the matter on the agenda for the end-of-month work session for further review and possible repeal and reintroduction of the ordinance. A council member cited case law provided by Autumn Temple as a factor prompting that review. No formal motion to repeal was made during the meeting.

The next procedural step is the scheduled work session at the end of the month, where council members said they will consider the newly presented case law and decide whether to revise or reintroduce ordinance language.