Smithville aldermen heard from several member of the public at their last meeting on April 4, concerning a possible transitional home for women in recovery from substance abuse. The city could be eligible for a community development block grant of up to $750,000 for the program, with no costs to the city. But some residents are leery of the proposal, its location, and how it will be run.

Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District and the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency Mark Farley informed the city during their March meeting of the possible grant, telling aldermen that Smithville had a very good chance of receiving the grant due to local statistics showing the area has the highest percentage of fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the state.

During a public hearing on April 4, Farley said that 8-12 single females, or women with children would, be served at this transitional home. The location for the site has yet to be decided, but several possible locations have been looked at, all within a half mile of city hall.

If approved Smithville and the UCDD/UCHRA, would enter into a contract as to how the program would be operated.

The city could still turn down the grant if the mayor and aldermen change their minds or can’t come to terms with the partnering agencies. With the deadline to apply for the grant on April 29, may apply for the grant then decide whether to move forward or not.

“What we propose is trying to find property inside Smithville to create a facility that would serve single females or women with children. There is another facility in the Upper Cumberland, the Emmanuel House in Carthage, which is very well run. We have looked at it from a model standpoint. It is very structured. The ladies come into the program, when they first start, they are very limited as to where they can go and what access they can have, but then as time goes on, they try to become employed and move in to permanent housing. This gives an opportunity for them to have a place where they can go to for up to two years, pay rent, get established, get a track record and hopefully at the end of two years move into one of the standard apartment units or a house for rent somewhere in Smithville or DeKalb County or even outside the county,” Farley said.

Local resident Marsha Darrah questioned Farley on how this program would be different from similar halfway houses in the area. “We already have five transitional facilities now which house 36 women. What is the difference in what you are proposing and the housing we already have,” she asked.

“I think we would probably provide something more structured than what they do,” answered Farley. “The city will have a partnership with us (UCDD/UCHRA) and input on this project, where you may not on the others,” added Luke Eldridge, UCHRA’s Substance Abuse Solutions Housing Program Manager.

Alderman Danny Washer asked what the city’s responsibility would be in such a partnership.

“It would depend upon what type of ownership of the property you would want to maintain,” answered Farley. “Because we (UCDD/UCHRA) are a governmental entity and an instrument of local government, the city can retain ownership of the house and it would be on your property rolls but it would be taken off the tax rolls like any other city owned property and the city would probably be responsible for insurance,” Farley explained. “Or you could let us (UCHRA) take ownership of it and it would stay on the tax rolls, and we would pay the property taxes on it, and we would be responsible for all expenses and if we ever quit operating that facility it would revert back to the city of Smithville and you would be able to dispose of it as you wish. However, it probably does have grant stipulations that require that it (house) be operated for seven years in that manner (transitional housing)” said Farley.

Mayor Josh Miller asked if the facility would have 24/7 supervision.

“Probably not,” answered Farley. “We would have somebody over the house as a house manager but we don’t believe any of these ladies would be a threat to the community. They would be coming out of treatment and on the road to recovery. They just need a place where they can establish a history of renting a place so they can go out into the rental market and rent something,” added Farley.

Asked about whether this facility could become another halfway house, Eldridge said there is a difference between the two types of operations.

“With most halfway houses you don’t have a partnership like this with the city. Halfway houses take people off the street and hope they will abide by rules whereas the person in this program is coming right out of that treatment facility and will have some of the structure, knowledge and understanding of how to stay in recovery. We’re just putting that roof over their head. If we can put them in a house somewhere, they will have better success than someone coming out of recovery and then going back to the street or back to the place they came from where they won’t recover,” said Eldridge.

Alderman Brandon Cox asked, “What if we say we don’t want anybody from outside DeKalb County to be part of this. Is that a restriction that would be applicable?”

“My feeling is you have more than enough people inside DeKalb County to make this work. We are opposed to bringing in anybody from outside the 14 county Upper Cumberland Region but we would have to have a certain number to make it work from a financial standpoint,” replied Farley.

“If you want to establish a board we would love that,” said Farley. “At the end of the day the UCDD and UCHRA work for you and you are going to be part of setting the rules and regulations and any oversight of this facility. We are applying for this on behalf of the City of Smithville so this is within your purview to put any type of restrictions or stipulations on it you want. Our job is to work out an agreement with you so that you are satisfied it will be managed in an appropriate way that you are happy with. If the mayor picks up the phone and says I’m not happy with something we will change it,” he said.

Local resident Bert Driver said he would like to see statistics that show a need for this facility and asked the city to not to not rush their decision. He said he would like the city to take up zoning before making the decision.

“This a benevolent community that reaches out and supports people in need,” said Driver. “I am very proud of the Upper Cumberland and what the UCHRA is doing and what UCDD does. There is a harmonious relationship here, but in my opinion I think the council needs to ask itself what about zoning? Before we get the proverbial cart ahead of the horse, can you (city) step back a minute even though you may miss the window on this one because this won’t be the last time a proposal will come to you? It’s not a bad program, but maybe step back a minute and take time to reflect for the next few months and come up with some ideas about where the zoning is for this type of transitional housing,” said Driver.

Concerned resident Meshia Johnson spoke out in favor of the program.

“We do have a drug problem here in Smithville,” said Johnson. “I want to give you a different perspective. As a parent, I had a child who was in addiction for 10 years and the community really doesn’t treat you with love always when you have a child in addiction. With these girls who are walking our streets from the transitional homes, they are women who have made bad choices. God tells me to give everybody a chance. Yes, we have serious issues and we want to make wise decisions. I know you (mayor and aldermen) will. I have been praying about this for some time now. I know you have a hard decision, but people do recover. My daughter recovered and she now works for the state. She tried to kill herself and now she does suicide prevention. So these women can change their lives. Its not that hard to minister to them. I do think that this transitional home they are looking at is a different situation. I ask that you pray about it,” said Johnson.

The mayor and alderman may decide whether to apply for the grant at a special called meeting Thursday, April 21, following a budget workshop at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.