AT THE RISE ABOVE SOBER HOME, 10 WOMEN LIVE TOGETHER, GO TO RECOVERY MEETINGS TOGETHER AND HELP EACH OTHER FACE A SOMETIMES UNWELCOMING WORLD.
THERE IS SO MUCH STIGMA AROUND.
>> NICOLE WHITE OPERATES FOUR SOBER HOMES, SAFE PLACES WHERE WOMEN CAN GET A FRESH START.
RENT IS MODEST AND PAID BY THE WEEK.
THERE ARE STRICT HOUSE RULES, MANDATORY MEETINGS AND DRUG TESTS.
>> PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS THE ONLY WORD THAT THEY HEAR IS ATTICS, POTENTIAL OVERDOSES, DRUGS.
THOSE ARE THE TIMES THAT THEY THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR SOBER HOME.
WE ARE PROBABLY MORE OF A FUNCTIONAL FAMILY THAN MOST FAMILIES THAT WE LIVED NEXT DOOR TO.
>> ALL FOUR RISE ABOVE SOBER HOME HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED.
IT WAS OVERSEEN BY THE MASSACHUSETTS ALLIANCE HOUSING.
THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO STRICT NATIONAL STANDARDS.
ONLY A THIRD OF HOMES HAVE SUBMITTED VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION.
WALDEN HAS COME DOWN HARD ON RISE ABOVE.
THEY SAID, YOU HAVE TOO MANY WOMEN LIVING HERE.
NOW SHE IS HEADING TO COURT.
SHE SAYS TH COST WOULD SHUT THEM DOWN.
>> WHAT MAKES ME MORE UPSET IS THAT THESE GIRLS, IF THEY WERE NOT HERE, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO.
THAT IS THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER.
A SIMILAR SITUATION PLAYING OUT HERE.
>> IT IS GREAT.
IT WARMS MY HEART.
TRADING -- >> TREATING THE MEN AT HIS SOBER HOUSE TO THE BOWLING CENTER.
>> THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND OUT IF THEY ARE FRIENDS ARE NOT.
CROSSING OVER, A MASS CERTIFIED SOBER HOME IN FITCHBURG.
>> THEY HAD THEIR OWN KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM AND SECURITY CODE.
>> AN ISLAND OF SAFETY AND SANITY.
LITTLE CASH AND NO CREDIT.
I WAS OUT THERE FOR 37 YEARS I COULD NOT STAY OUT OF THE PRISONS, THE SHELTERS.
12 YEARS CLEAN -- >> 12 YEAR CLINGING -- CLEAN.
>> TOGETHER WE CAN.
ALONE, WE CANNOT.
>> LOCKED IN BATTLE WITH THE CITY OF FITCHBURG OVER WHETHER THEY NEED TO LET COSTLY SYSTEM REQUIRED OF LODGING HOUSE THE ZONING ACT HAS THE DOVER AMENDMENT WHICH SAYS THAT A
GROUP OF DISABLED PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER, LIKE RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS SHOULD BE TREATED NO DIFFERENTLY THAN A SINGLE-FAMILY.
MEETING, IS A FAMILY IS NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL SPRINKLERS, A GROUP OF RECOVERING ADDICTS SHOULD NOT EITHER.
>> THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO ANYTHING SHOW.
THESE GUYS THE LAW INTERPRETS THAT THEY SHOULD GET THE SAME TREATMENT AS A SINGLE-FAMILY.
>> REASONING THAT CODES SUPERSEDE THE ORDINANCE, NOW THE CASE IS BEIN APPEALED.
>> I AM LOOKING TO FIND A WAY THAT WE CAN COEXIST.
IF THEY WIN, OUR GUYS.
>> FOR HIS PART, HE LIKES TO THINK HE HAS ALWAYS DONE THINGS THE RIGHT WAY.
CROSSING OVER SPONSORS AN ANNUAL 5K WALK THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
>> I CAME HERE TO BE AN ASSET TO THE CITY.
I CAME HERE TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY AND PROVIDE A RESOURCE THAT I THOUGHT WAS NEEDED IN THE CITY.
>> IT IS A DEBATE.
90% OF SOBER HOM DO NOT HAVE COMMERCIAL GRADE SPRINKLER SYSTEM HUNDREDS OF SOBER HOMES THROUGHOUT THE STATE COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE COURT RULING
AGAINST CROSSING OVER.
>> DONALD FLAG AND HIS ATTORNEYS ARE OPTIMISTIC.
SOBER HOMES ARE EXEMPT FROM THE SPRINKLER REQUIREMENT.
THEY ARE WAITING