Community Counseling Centers, Inc. (CCC) has twice moved as far as escrow to purchase a house for use as a group home, but when the neighbors discovered a group home would be in their neighborhood, they have opposed the purchase.

“The house will be used for short term housing for adults who need assistance with living independently in our communities. Residents living in the house will be supervised 24 hours per day, seven days per week,” according to a March 23 letter to the neighbors. CCC CEO Jeffrey Oakes confirmed the statement.

CCC opened escrow for a home located at 801 E. Cattle Lane in Taylor early this year, but the outcry from neighbors caused the firm to pull the house out of escrow. One of the neighbors paid half of the earnest money to help the seller.

CCC began the process of purchasing a house and apartments located at 195 S. Fourth West in Snowflake, and the property was in escrow when neighbors were notified.

The neighbors expressed concern that the house was 3½ blocks from two elementary schools, across the street from the town library and abuts the high school.

Approximately 200 Snowflake residents signed petitions expressing concern about the location and asking CCC to stop the purchase.

A March 23 letter from CCC provided neighbors with information about CCC and sought to help them better understand the intended use of the home.

The home would be a short-term facility for adults who need assistance with living independently in the community. Those who would transition through the house live within the towns and community. The letter noted, “CCC won’t be bringing in people who don’t already live here among us.”

CCC is a private non-profit agency that provides mental health, substance abuse treatment and vocational rehabilitation services. The firm has outpatient clinics in Show Low, Holbrook, Winslow and Snowflake, and an inpatient hospital in Lakeside.

CCC has provided behavioral health services throughout Navajo County since 1966, coming to Snowflake approximately two years ago. The Snowflake clinic very quickly became the second largest facility CCC owns.

No permits are necessary for a group home and there are few restrictions for one.

Pat Harwood was designated spokeswoman for the citizens speaking against the placement of the group home during the call to the public at the April 9 meeting of the Snowflake Unified School District Governing Board.

She said that while gathering names on the petitions, many people shared experiences from family members or those who live by a group home.

“A suggestion and request is that this is a great time to have the school district look into updated security. This would be a great time to be proactive,” said Harwood, noting that parents are aware that there is more security in the Phoenix area, and even in Holbrook, than in Snowflake.

“I get the feeling that parents would feel better if we had a review of the school system. I think if you would look into this we would have more confidence in the school.”

“Community Counseling chose to pull that house out of escrow,” said Superintendent Hollis Merrell, who noted he has been in contact with the Town of Snowflake and attorneys, and a group home is legal in residential zoning.

“If you have questions or concerns and want to look at our safety plan, please come visit,” said Merrell.

In an April 10 interview, Oakes noted, “The important thing from my perspective is the service is needed. People here have to go to Phoenix, Prescott or other locations, and we’re trying to provide that service,” explaining that hundreds of thousands of dollars is spent to help people from Snowflake and Taylor at group homes in other cities.

Oaks said that they have not given up on locating a group home in the Snowflake-Taylor area; they are meeting to look at options.