Blue Island drug rehab center sues to stay open
BY CASEY TONER ctoner@southtownstar.com May 31, 2012 7:06PM
Updated: July 6, 2012 10:11AM
A Blue Island addiction recovery center that the city wants shut down because of licensing and safety issues has filed a lawsuit, seeking to stay open.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, claims Blue Island’s attempt to evict residents of Affordable Recovery Housing is a violation of their right to due process, among other charges. The lawsuit, which seeks emergency injunctive relief, is to be heard at 11:15 a.m. Friday at the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago.
Affordable Recovery Housing is operating without a state recovery home license, and the former school building in which it is housed has no sprinkler system, officials said. City officials have told the center that most of its 70 residents must leave and its program must shut down by Friday.
Addicts are sent to the former Mother of Sorrows Catholic High School, 13811 S. Western Ave., to stay clean and get their lives back on track while learning trades. The facility offers rooms and meals, and hosts Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
Attorney John Mauck, who is representing Affordable Recovery Housing, said residents will be in trouble if the city has its way.
“They will be on the street subject to the weather, starvation, panhandling and crime,” Mauck said. “It’s outrageous.”
