Northwest OKC Residents Want Sober House To Go

Residents of a northwest side neighborhood say they have had enough of what they are calling a nuisance.

Tuesday, June 28th 2011, 9:33 pm

By: News 9


Michael Konopasek, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Residents of a northwest side neighborhood say they have had enough of what they are calling a nuisance.

A sober house located on the 7000 block of North Independence is raising some eyebrows after police say a man killed himself in the home's backyard

News 9 is told the home has served as a sober house for just about a year. Those with substance abuse problems will stay at the house. Most of those living in the neighborhood say they want them out.

There was a lot of talk about what happened Monday night in this quiet, middle class community. Police say a man killed himself in the backyard of a sober house. Most of the residents in the area say the house causes problems and is an annoyance.

"They come and go in the middle of the night, and it doesn't bother me too much, but it's a nuisance in a way," said neighborhood resident Evan Hurt

Hurt, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1965, was one of a few residents who would actually go on camera. Many people in the area believe the suicide was actually a murder and did not want to broadcast their concerns, but they do want something else.

"They want to get a petition up to see if we can't get this taken care of … this halfway house business," said Hurt.

Those at the Sober House say they don't mean to bother people.

"People that come here aren't bad people, they're just sick ... need some help," said sober house volunteer Glen Boyd.

Boyd says 4 to 5 people stay at the home at any given time. He also says the sober house wants to be an asset to the are and not a distraction, and for some residents, it is not a distraction.

"I've had absolutely no problem with [the people at the sober house]," said neighborhood resident Mike Scole. "Seems to be a lot of traffic in and out of there," continued Scole as he referred to the sober house.

But for Hurt and every other neighbor News 9 talked with, this residential neighborhood is not the place for a sober house.

"It's one of those things where you feel like you've got to pack up and leave but you don't," said Hurt.

Neighbors say they plan on starting the petition to have the sober house change hands as soon as possible.

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