20240111_WSS_SOBER_LIVING_TASK_FORCE_UPDATE_PRESENTATION_FINAL.PDF

City of Tempe — Work Study Session Meeting (2024-01-11)

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Sober Living Crisis
Task Force Update
Work Study Session
January 11, 2024

Purpose
• Approval of recommended strategies 
• Seeking guidance on next steps
Priorities
• 1.05 – Feeling of Safety in your Neighborhood
• 1.09 – Victim of Crime
• 3.01 – Property Code Enforcement
• 3.34 – Community Health and 
Well-Being 
Overview

3
2019
Tribal 
leaders 
identify an 
issue with 
Sober Living 
providers
2019
AHCCCS 
launches 
investigation 
into irregular 
billing
2020
Goodyear 
PD begins 
investigating 
2 problem 
homes* 
Fall 2022 
City of 
Surprise, AZ 
convenes 
internal 
stakeholders* 
08/2022 
AZ DHS issues 
licensing to 
Newfound 
Hope LLC
05/2023
- Tempe PD alerted 
CMO of DHS activity 
at Ramada 
- Governor Hobbs 
announces Operation 
Rainbow Bridge
06/2023
- Local Governments 
Briefed
- Solari begins response 
(2-1-1*7 / SureStay)
- Tempe initiates Sober 
Living Crisis Taskforce
10/2023
- TERF
- Recommendations
- Enforcement
09/2023 
- Senator Hatathlie hosts 
Multi-Jurisdictional Event 
at State Senate Building
- HSCS Presentation
- Public Communication

Scope of the Problem
400+ AHCCCS vendors suspended/terminated
168 providers reported to 2-1-1*7
Over 6,200 victims identified
50% not tribally affiliated
$650M in fraud last fiscal year
• Could be as much as $2B total
AZ AG/FBI investigating
• Recent prosecution
4

Shape of the Problem
Two primary models of operations:
•Residential Housing
•Leasing Motels/Hotels
Treatment and housing typically not collocated
Limit/restrict movement and supports
5

6
Sober Living Crisis Taskforce:
Goals
Communication
Coordinated Responses
Identify/Report
Investigations
Enforcement
Identify Gaps and Solutions
Make Recommendations

Approach
Convened Monthly
Four working groups
Community Partners
Communications
Reporting/Tracking
Legal/Enforcement
Targeted Event Readiness Forum (TERF)
Recommendations – 12/8 meeting

Recommendations
Creation of General Business License
Systemic Tracking of Problematic 
Properties
Excessive Calls for Service Ordinance  
at Commercial Properties
Continued Public Communication

Support ADHS Recommendations
Eliminate Loopholes
Ownership
Inspections
Fines 
Increase limits
Require fine payment w/annual license
Remove SLH confidentiality
Increase Oversight Infrastructure

Discussion and 
Questions