County OKs Sober-Living Home Inquiry : Health: Supervisors order an investigation of conditions at unlicensed residences for recovering addicts.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ordered an immediate investigation into allegations of substandard conditions and abuse of residents at unlicensed sober-living homes.

Exploitation of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts by some operators of the privately run homes was reported in a Times series last week.

Tuesday’s action mobilizes the county’s health, welfare and probation departments against any sober-living homes operating outside the local health and public safety laws.

Under Supervisor Ed Edelman’s measure, county health chief Robert Gates is directed to survey the estimated 200 to 500 homes countywide.

The measure also instructs the director of the county Department of Public Social Services and the chief probation officer “to take appropriate steps to ensure that any referrals made by county staff to sober-living centers are to reputable, properly operated facilities.”

Chief Probation Officer Barry Nidorf said he is crafting a policy prohibiting deputies from referring probationers to any sober-living homes; they have no way of evaluating quality, he said.

A Times examination of about 50 sober-living homes found many were run-down and overcrowded. Some managers allegedly exploited residents financially or sexually.

Although the homes are promoted and sometimes funded by county drug treatment officials, they are not routinely inspected or monitored. Many residents come to the homes after leaving publicly funded treatment programs, including those in hospitals, prisons and recovery centers.

A second measure passed by the supervisors calls for “proper oversight” of all sober-living homes, regardless of whether they receive county funds.

That motion, by Supervisor Deane Dana, ordered an investigation of any conflicts of interest within the Department of Health Services’ alcohol and drug division. The Times reported last week that a county alcohol program monitor owns a chain of Pomona sober-living homes.

Both measures direct the county’s director of public social services to investigate allegations of “fraud, coercion and misuse” of the General Relief payments made to men and women living in sober homes.

The Times found some payments were intercepted and cashed by house managers. Many residents were overpaid, costing the county millions of dollars in inflated welfare payments.

The supervisors gave county health and welfare officials 30 days to report their findings and proposed remedies. Gates said the supervisors ae “appropriately concerned” about conditions in the homes.

Health inspectors had visited 25 homes by Tuesday and were expected to complete a sweep of 100 homes by Friday, said health deputy Ralph Lopez. Homes that do not comply with health, sanitation, building and fire codes will be shut down, he said.

One of the homes named in The Times series was Priscilla’s Place in Pasadena, which has no local building or health permits.

Alton Wright, the county head of alcoholism services, said Tuesday that one of his inspectors recently visited Priscilla’s Place because it received $20,000 in county start-up funds.

Although the home houses up to 13 women and their children, Wright said, “Our opinion is that they’re operating appropriately.”

However, Pasadena building official Ron Ho said the operator has about 10 days to make repairs and obtain a certificate of occupancy, or he will be taken to court.