BILL CRAWFORD — Politicians right to question Oxford Houses
Things were going smoothly in Mississippi — 13 houses opened since 2013 with support from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (MDMH) — until last month when an Oxford House opened on Northside Drive in Jackson. That’s when concerned residents contacted Republican State Sen. Will Longwitz.
Citing “serious shortcomings,” Longwitz concluded MDMH “is failing to oversee the operations of Oxford House” and called on the agency to stop its support.
Last week he gained two powerful allies. Gov. Phil Bryant called on MDMH director Diana Mikula to stop supporting Oxford Houses. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann ordered Oxford House Inc. to cease and desist soliciting charitable contributions “in and from the State of Mississippi.”
What began as a not-in-my-back-yard protest from northeast Jackson residents has become an expose’ questioning the operation of Malloy’s model.
MBJ
5/30/15
Magnolia Tribune
