JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville nonprofit that has helped people recover from drug and alcohol addiction for nearly six decades is now facing costly safety upgrades after a recent fire inspection revealed the residential portion of the property had never been inspected by fire officials.
The nonprofit Alco Halfway House, located at the corner of Hubbard Street and First Street, has operated in Jacksonville since 1967, providing sober living housing for people working to overcome addiction. The Victorian home on the property dates back to 1903.
“We are the largest privately held not-for-profit sober living house in North Florida,” said executive director Doug Jones.
Jones said the organization provides a stable environment for people trying to rebuild their lives.
“What we do is we house people who are trying to get clean and sober off of drugs and alcohol and provide them a safe, sober environment to stay while they’re building a foundation of recovery,” Jones said.
But during a routine inspection in September, a Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department lieutenant noticed residents moving between two buildings on the property and asked about the structure next door.
Jones said that’s when they learned the residential recovery house, the building where clients actually live, had never been inspected.
“He looked in his tablet and he indicated, ‘We’ve never done an inspection there before,’” Jones said.
Records obtained by the News4JAX I-TEAM confirm there were no previous inspections for the residential portion of the property.
After the inspection, officials determined the building did not meet several fire safety standards. Jones said the nonprofit now faces an estimated $175,000 in upgrades, including installing a fire alarm system, sprinklers and fire doors, along with permitting costs.
Because of the violations, Jones said the organization was forced to move 13 residents out of the building’s third floor.
That displacement, he said, can have serious consequences for people in recovery.
“When they get displaced, they usually end up back on the street using,” Jones said. “There are so few places like ours and so few homeless shelters or resources for people who need recovery that many of them end up back on the streets.”
JFRD officials confirm they only became aware of the building’s use as a dormitory-style residence last year after an inspector noticed someone traveling between the two properties.
The department said there is no centralized system that proactively identifies businesses operating out of residential properties. Instead, these situations are typically discovered during routine inspections or when complaints are filed.
In a statement, JFRD said, “Regardless of how long the property has operated in this capacity, the facility is still required to comply with the Florida Fire Prevention Code.”
The department said it has made every attempt to help the organization come into compliance and has waived fines, but deadlines to complete the upgrades remain.
Jones believes the situation stems from a decades-old oversight.
“It’s a big house. I don’t know how you miss it,” he said. “We need help, and I’m scared for this place, and I am scared for the Jacksonville community.
Despite the challenges, Jones said the organization wants to continue serving people battling addiction in Jacksonville.
“We’ve been very successful in helping people get clean and sober,” he said. “I’d hate to see that go away, especially in today’s day and age when overdoses are rising. We’re at a risk of being shut down because JFRD dropped the ball 59 years ago.”
The nonprofit operates primarily on private donations and charges residents $155 a week, which includes housing and daily dinner. Jones said those fees mostly cover operating expenses.
The organization is now asking for help from the community to fund the required upgrades and keep the recovery program open.
You can donate in person by visiting the Alco Halfway House at 1120 Hubbard Street or via Venmo @AlcoHouse1967