CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – A proposed drug addiction rehab facility in the city of Joliet is meeting with new skepticism and questions from officials.
Joliet City Manager James Capparelli has raised questions about funding and more over the Volunteers of America Illinois' proposed 42-apartment facility for women recovering from opioid addictions.
The plan had been approved by the zoning committee in the fall but its fate is now in question.
At Tuesday's city council meeting, Capparelli said that, among questions he has for VOA-Illinois included asking other locations besides Joliet the organization considered and why they were not good enough.
"Will County's a large place with better locations," Capparelli said. "The other questions are how clients ….from Will County will be referred? What does the application process look like? Step-by-step. Does it go to the housing authority of Joliet or to Cook County? What does the security look like for guests? What is the number that was used when applying for funding? Did it show the city of Joliet's need?"
Earlier, during the public comment period of the meeting, former Joliet Housing Authority Commissioner Robert Hernandez questioned why the rehab facility was planned for Joliet's East Side in the first place.
"If this same project were going in the Cathedral area, there wouldn't even be a discussion today. It would be denied," Hernandez said, adding, "Enough is enough."
Nancy Hughes Moyer, the president and CEO of Volunteers of America Illinois, told the Joliet Herald News she was "surprised and disappointed" by the direction the proposal is going.
