Freedom House continues, but not the name
The Freedom House name is no more, but the house continues.
“There is no more Freedom House,” said Bill Hawk, who serves as a volunteer house manager for the men’s clean and sober house at 1128 Third Ave. West.
Hawk said recently that several men are still in the home, but its founder Randy Marr is no longer involved.
Marr was arrested at the Kalispell hospital on Sept. 24 and served 21 days in jail as a result of a probation violation.
“We’re really not sure what we’re going to do,” Hawk said, referring questions to Tim Soule.
Soule, who previously served as a Freedom House board member, said the future of the unnamed facility is up in the air.
There will be no discussions about the house’s future until after the first of the year, he said.
Earlier this year, the Kalispell City Council directed City Attorney Charlie Harball to ask Attorney General Steve Bullock for an opinion defining clean and sober houses, which are not regulated by the state.
On Monday, Harball said the city can’t request an attorney general’s opinion “while something is in controversy.” Specifically, Harball said an administrative complaint by Montana Fair Housing Inc. to the Montana Human Rights Bureau, a state agency, needs to be handled first.
That complaint is currently in the investigation stage, Harball said. An investigator will determine if the complaint will be forwarded to the Human Rights Bureau for consideration. Harball said the city will “probably” ask Bullock for an opinion once the complaint is adjudicated.
On Nov. 15, the council declared a conditional-use permit request for the Freedom House inactive.
Earlier this year, City Planning Director Tom Jentz said the Freedom House needed to apply for the permit, but that the city was required to approve it based on the federal Fair Housing Act.
The council punted on the issue three times before declaring it inactive.
The clean and sober house has drawn opposition from some neighbors.
Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.