Dear Nose Park Neighbors,

Some residents have inquired of Councilman Verrett and of me about the legality (zoning) of a "sobriety" group home in the neighborhood. There are actually several group homes sprinkled in residential areas throughout our city. By federal law, one is prohibited from discriminating against residents that meet the criteria of disabled. Alcoholism is one of these protected classes.

Per the United States Department of Justice:

"The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all types of housing transactions. The Act defines persons with a disability to mean those individuals with mental or physical impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities. The term mental or physical impairment may include conditions such as blindness, hearing impairment, mobility impairment, HIV infection, mental retardation, alcoholism, drug addiction, chronic fatigue, learning disability, head injury, and mental illness."

"The Fair Housing Act prohibits municipalities and other local government entities from making zoning or land use decisions or implementing land use policies that exclude or otherwise discriminate against individuals with disabilities."

Hope this helpful,

Mayor Mark

Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.