Last month the property at 24 School Street, which housed the Sigma Nu fraternity house from 1978-2016, was sold to a new owner. The new owner has signed a three-year lease with Maine Reentry Services, LLC, and plans to open a “sober house” on June 1 that will house 15 former prison inmates who are trying to make the transition back to society.
Rob Korobkin, owner of Maine Reentry Services, LLC, will hire a residential manager while Sean Crothers, Business Development Director for Evergreen Recovery Healthcare, will provide off-site clinical services. Korobkin said that the new residence would be called “Courage House,” and the mission is to “provide safe housing for people transitioning back to regular life and to create a home where we provide the support and accountability they need to become good citizens.”
Korobkin is a member of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences whose goal is to set standards for recovery facilities. The company has a four-level system of standards. Courage House will be a Level 2 recovery residence meaning it will be a managed house but will have no clinical services in house.
Crothers is a USM graduate, a former inmate, and a recovering alcoholic. He said that Courage House will be “accountable housing.” Residents will sign an agreement to stay clean and sober, and they will be monitored and tested.
Photo credit Roger MarchandAnother goal of Courage House, according to Korobkin, is to reduce the recidivism rate for people released from prison. He went on to say that within three years of release, 56% of former inmates return to prison. Korobkin spoke for himself and Crothers when saying they are grateful to those supporting this new project. He asked those who are skeptical to be patient.
Crothers said they plan to make Courage House the “nicest in the neighborhood with some of the hardest working people in the community,” and will provide opportunities for Gorham residents to meet and discuss their concerns. Korobkin stated that Sigma Nu has always been a rooming house, and it will remain a rooming house; the only difference is the inhabitants.
Several Gorham residents and nearby business owners voiced opposition at a recent Town Council meeting. Amy Valentine, Julie Mulkern, Trish Moulton and Allyson Lowell shared their concerns stating that the abutters were not notified of the decision. Additionally, they were not happy with the lack of communication about the matter. At the same meeting, Town Councilor Chair Ben Hartwell said there were probably some restrictions the Town Council could impose, but they could not discriminate against a class of people.
Tom Poirier, Interim Zoning Administrator, and Freeman Abbott, Code Enforcement Officer, said the Town has been fielding complaints about the establishment of a sober house at that location but it is a permitted use and the Town can not prevent it from moving forward.