Facility raises concerns

Neighbors complain about Oxford House, which is inhabited by recovering substance abuse addicts.

By: Joseph Harvie
   Residents of Donald Avenue in Brunswick Acres are upset that they have to live on the same street as a house inhabited by recovering substance abuse addicts.
   While some residents said they did not know the house was used as a recovery center, others said they knew that 45 Donald Ave. was part of Oxford House and were upset that they could not do anything to get the facility off their street.
   The residents’ complaints come after Melissa Kulikowski, 21, a resident of the house was pronounced dead at 7:23 a.m. Oct. 30 in the house, according to an Oct. 21 press release issued by the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office.
   The cause of death has not been determined pending a toxicology report, which township police said would not be completed for about five weeks.
   The house, owned by Ghanshan and Kavita Chainani of Plainsboro, is used by Oxford House, a nonprofit group that helps set up housing for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
   Messages left on the Chainanis’ answering machine were not returned by the South Brunswick Post’s Wednesday evening deadline.
   According to the Oxford House Web site, tenants must remain sober and pay their rent. If a tenant is found to be using drugs or alcohol, he or she is immediately kicked out of the house. Tenants must also participate in a 12-step program like Alcoholics Anonymous.
   Police and township officials said they were not aware the house was used as a home for recovering addicts. Mayor Frank Gambatese said Wednesday that a fire marshal was sent to the property in April and found that everything was up to code. The fire marshal was sent on an anonymous tip that more than one family was living at the location. Mayor Gambatese said there were no violations and not many people were at the residence at the time of inspection.
   Mayor Gambatese said neither he nor Township Manager Matt Watkins knew that Oxford House was functioning out of the Donald Avenue house.
   Councilman Joe Camarota said Wednesday that he would inform the township’s code enforcement staff to look at the property to see if there are any violations at the property in light of Donald Avenue residents’ latest complaints.
   Residents Felice Puglia of Donald Avenue and Margaret Neiman of Barbara Street said they knew the house was there and was being used as a recovery center. They said they found out when talking to a retired township police officer.
   The residents also said they are upset because the house is not maintained properly. They say the house looks run down and that the siding and garage door need to be replaced.
   Ms. Puglia said she had contacted the township and made complaints because in the past the grass has not been properly maintained.
   "It is the eyesore of the neighborhood," Ms. Puglia said.
   The house has had several tenants over the years who, she said, helped in the deterioration of the house. She said she blames the owner of the home because he does not make changes at the house.
   Ms. Puglia said she does not understand how the facility could be a permitted use in a residential neighborhood.
   "If you cannot have a doctor move or a dentist move in and help the community, why should we allow this," Ms. Puglia said.
   Another resident of Donald Avenue, who wished to remain anonymous, said she is concerned because now that the address has been published in several area newspapers, the value of the houses on the street could decrease.
   She said recovering addicts need a place to live, but is concerned that it is so close to the Brunswick Acres School.
   The residents were also concerned because of the number of children living close to the home.
   Another major concern of the residents was that there were no counselors at the residence.
   Oxford Houses are not regulated by the state, said Ed Rogan, spokesman for the state Department of Human Services.
   He said there are two representatives of Oxford House International, the parent company of Oxford House, based in Maryland, that monitor house on a regular basis.
   A representative from Oxford House who wished to remain anonymous because he is part of the program, said the representatives make sure the houses are running properly.
   The representative said that this is the last step that the patrons of Oxford House take before living on their own again — residing with other recovering addicts in an effort to help each other through the recovery process.
   Mr. Rogan said the people who participate in the Oxford House program have come out of long-term rehabilitation programs.