Lincoln City Council OKs sober living home’s request to increase occupancy

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Lincoln City Council on Monday granted a request to double the number of people allowed to live in a sober living home.

The Oxford House near 81st Street and Old Cheney Road is considered a collaborative living facility under city code.

And those type of homes are only allowed to house four unrelated people.

Oxford House asked the city for a special accommodation to increase its capacity to eight.

One of the women who live there, Massa Phonsavat, said this home is meant to be a steppingstone for people.

“I know that for me, in recovery, just having a background or a group to feel that you can relate to and talk to about stuff is important,” she said.

But some neighbors were opposed, saying the increase will make the area less safe.

Troy Selig lives across the street from the Oxford House.

He said last summer, one of the people who lived there tried breaking into his home.

“Long story short, there was banging on the doors, banging on the windows to a point where I thought they were going to break the windows in,” Selig said. “My wife called the police, and I do have three young children. Not only was that disturbing to me and my wife, it was also traumatizing to my kids.”

Neighbors also complained about excessive visitors and cars parking in the street.

The women living in the house said they’ve made rules now to ban overnight visitors, and they’re working to scale back street parking.

The home also sits next to Lincoln Christian School.

Superintendent Matt Huseman spoke out against the proposal.

“The Oxford House organization itself states that 78% of house occupants have served jail time in some capacity,” he said. “With this in mind, increasing the occupants of the home also increases the risk of dangerous situations and behaviors that potentially put children in concerning positions and an unsafe environment.”

But Phonsavat said the situation is not as bad as neighbors make it seem.

“I still see everybody in the neighborhood playing out front, walking around,” she said. “So to make it sound like everyone is scared and hiding in their houses with guns is extreme to me, and it was heartbreaking to hear that.”

The council voted 5-1 to approve the accommodation.

Supporters said denying it would be a violation of the federal Fair Housing Act.

Councilman Tom Duden was the lone vote against.

This is a developing story. Check with Channel 8 for the latest.