We recently received a letter from the State that says we need a license to operate a recovery home that we've been residing in for over 25 years. For years we've had a city license, but now the state wants a piece of the pie. They want to do this by charging $100 a bed for every six months - plus a hefty application fee even for non-profit programs.
Now in my mind this is the the most flagrant example of government hypocrisy that I've witnessed in all the years TLC has been doing business in Arizona.
I say this because for nearly 30 years TLC has housed hundreds of thousands of homeless addicts and alcoholics at zero cost to any part of of the government, state, county, or city. Our program accepts anyone who asks for help with their addiction - with the exception of sex offenders.
We provide peer counseling, professional counseling, meals, jobs, dental and eye care, and many other services at no cost to the clients. We teach them job skills and trades and help them locate employment in the free market. We teach them living skills that help wean them from their addictions.
In the media we hear talk all the time that the Southern border of our state is the gateway for those who smuggle all kinds of drugs - Fentanyl in particular, into our state. In fact, in Pima County the leading cause of death in the 18-45 age group is now Fentanyl overdoses.
But, does the state really care about this pandemic of opioids? No. Not if you look at their record of creating draconian regulations that are tailored specifically for those who are giving their all to assist recovering - mostly homeless - addicts and alcoholics.
Those in power only cry about overdoses when they are attending the funerals and burials of their own children.
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