LOCATION OF YOUR GROUP HOME 🏡🏡🏡

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOUR BUSINESS

The Ins and Outs of Real Estate

There are three things you must understand about real estate before starting your group home. 

1. LOCATION

2. LOCATION

3. LOCATION

I’m not kidding. The location of your group home, sober living facility, or transitional house is the most crucial factor before you become too focused on your goals. We opened two sober living homes in Pasadena, only to close them a few years later due to an outdated and archaic zoning law we were unaware of. ,

The city attorney filed nearly 200 misdemeanor charges against David and me for operating an illegal boarding home in their City. The City attorney was using this unconstitutional law to rid the City of all sober living homes. We were the largest and most successful, so they used our nonprofit as an example. Pasadena is known as the snobbiest city in the United States, I once read. They did not want us in their backyard. This is called NIMBY (Not in my backyard). The law essentially limited the number of unrelated persons who could live under one roof to a maximum of six. That means if you have seven occupants and a house manager living in a ten-bedroom home, it is considered an illegal boarding home in Pasadena. In my opinion, the law was unconstitutional land courts have since agreed with my legal opinion. In 2013, we decided not to spend millions on attorneys' fees by taking the City to Federal Court. Instead, we decided to go back to South Los Angeles, where we blended in with the neighborhood as nd help as many people as we could.

A lot of ignorant people think sober livings bring in bad people who will just use drugs in their neighborhoods and devalue their homes. I grew up in Newport Beach, and when our neighbors were going to sell their house to a sober living, my own mother was quoted in the newspaper stating she didn’t want a bunch of drug addicts and alcoholics living next door to her. It would only bring down the value of her beautiful home. She was of the mindset that drug addicts and alcoholics in recovery are dangerous people. Hello... Your own daughter is an alcoholic in recovery. I don't think she thought of me in any way as being dangerous!

Take the location of your house very seriously. Will your group home stick out like a sore thumb in the neighborhood? If you are on a busy main street, the less noticeable you will be to the community. Don't let your residents stand out front smoking cigarettes, as a lot of people do in recover. Find out if there is a homeowner’s association that has the power to assess fines to the landlord, who may eventually be forced to ask your group home to move out.

Review your local zoning laws, which are written to preserve the integrity of each area within the City. Typically, residential buildings are located in one zone, while commercial buildings are situated elsewhere. However, older cities may not have had zoning laws historically. Too bad Pasadena had this old law that drove us. What are the zoning laws in that neighborhood?

You need to consider your target population, as they will want to be near public transportation if they don't have their own cars. Young people are more likely to live in cities rather than rural areas. Don't forget to consider the parking needs of residents who will have their own cars. So, is there enough parking, or will that be an issue?

Other factors to consider are how far the supermarket is and whether there is a laundromat nearby (even if you provide a washer and dryer); many of us use the Laundromat as it is faster. What else is essential to your target population? Where will they work or be able to get jobs? Do they attend any outpatient treatment programs, doctors' offices, or other similar facilities?  If it is not convenient for their outings they may not choose to live at your group home.

Our group home, located in the worst area and the oldest building, was our most popular house. We were puzzled as to why so many men preferred to live in this 60-year-old apartment building instead of a brand-new, beautiful duplex. Because it was a block away from the metro, the convenience of getting around Los Angeles was an attractive enough amenity to keep it full of residents. You can never assume what people want when making their housing choice. Remember to do your fur diligence and conduct a thorough investigation before signing a lease agreement or purchasing a property.

Join our SOS Housing community to have our Location Checklist for Group Homes emailed to you. It will help you determine whether a prospective property is the right one for your Group Home..

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