There are 236 registered recovery houses in the tri-county area of Scioto, Lawrence, and Adams County. That figure has shocked local leaders and reignited calls for stronger oversight—even as efforts to rein in the spread face resistance in Columbus.
Scioto County Commissioner Scottie Powell revealed the new figures after attending a legislative conference with State Representative Justin Pizzulli about Ohio House Bill 58, a proposed law that would finally establish a Certificate of Need (CON) process for recovery housing. The bill would regulate the opening, expansion, and relocation of recovery homes, require annual inspections, and allow complaints to be formally investigated by local mental health boards.
“There are 132 facilities in Scioto County, which is more than Franklin County, which has over a million people compared to our 72,000.”
That jaw-dropping number has fueled urgent calls for reform. But Powell says many lawmakers in Columbus don’t understand—or don’t want to admit—how widespread the issue is.
“There’s a mindset that this is just a Scioto County problem, or just a Southern Ohio issue. That’s false. Even Ohio Recovery Housing’s own data shows one-quarter of Ohio counties have more beds than their population needs—while other counties have none,” Powell said.
What House Bill 58 Would Do:
- Require state approval before new recovery homes open, expand, or relocate
- Mandate annual inspections and complaint investigations by local ADAMH Boards
- Encourage a more even distribution of facilities across the state based on population and need
Powell, Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman, and Sue Shultz of the ADAMH Board for Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto Counties attended the Columbus meeting. They found the room deeply divided, with both passionate supporters and vocal opponents of the bill.
“I’m not anti-recovery housing,” Powell emphasized. “I’m anti-bad recovery housing. We want people to receive help where they live, where their families are, not have to travel hours away and overload communities like ours.”
Despite the alarming numbers, Powell says some groups—including Ohio Recovery Housing, the nonprofit that oversees recovery house certification—are downplaying the scope of the issue. He’s urging community members to take action.
“If you’re concerned about a recovery house near you, file a complaint,” Powell said. “Ohio Recovery Housing handles the process. Use their online form at rhoads.orh.ai/complaint or call 614-453-5133.”
Powell says change will only come if communities continue to raise their voices and demand action in Columbus.
“It’s a tough hill to climb, but it’s up to us to keep pushing. What’s happened in Scioto County shouldn’t happen anywhere else.”