JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Terri Gnann is fighting for acceptance. Gnann is a case manager for The Beach House, a sober living program that recently moved multiple men into a home on First Street in south Jacksonville Beach.
"People still say they appreciate what we do and want us to keep working, but not in their backyard. What people should realize is that these are sober people. They're not on drugs. They're trying to have a different life," Gnann told Action News.
But neighbors are asking the city to take action, especially after registered sex offender, Anthony Papa Jr., moved in to the home, which is right across the street from a park..
In an email to the mayor, one woman wrote, "I have a son and my neighbors have young children as well ... I am exploring my legal rights."
Another homeowner said, "With the abduction and rape of the little girl in Arlington … I am truly concerned with what could next happen."
Gnann says they shouldn't be.
"We follow all the guidelines, all of the policies that we're supposed to follow."
Action News went to the Director of Jacksonville Beach Planning and Development, Bill Mann, who said the city is doing all it can do to monitor sober living homes.
A local ordinance does prevent more than four unrelated people from living in a single family dwelling. The home in question is considered a two family dwelling, which limits the number of unrelated residents to eight.
However, state law, Mann says, requires that sober living homes be treated the same as any other, and as long as the facility follows code, sober living homes are not restricted in the community.
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Like all residents, Gnann said Papa underwent a stringent background check. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he was convicted of sexual battery on a victim under the age of 16 in 1992. The Jacksonville Beach Police Department tells Action News Papa has met every legal requirement since. He is no longer on probation, and has no restrictions on where he can live, unlike many other sexual offenders and predators who are prevented from living near schools.
"The young man did everything he was supposed to do," said Gnann. "We talked to multiple sources in his background, and we came together as a group for this, and decided this young man needed another chance with something that happened long ago."
Neighbors tell Action News they are still concerned. The Beach House is, for now, a private organization that is working to transition into a non-profit. Neighbors are pushing city leaders to review codes that regulate businesses in residential areas.
Gnann said Papa, and every other patient, are held to a higher standard.
"We have stringent rules. We drug test. If you use, you're out. We're not going to have anybody here that would cause anybody in our neighborhood to be in any danger of any kind."
While state law only requires police to check on registered sex offenders once a year, JBPD said they will check on Papa, and all other offenders, at least four times a year.
The Beach House also runs a women's sober living home on Fourth Avenue South, in the same block as the men's home, that has been in operation since 2007. The women's home, which is the address where Papa is registered as living, serves as the office for both The Beach House locations. Gnann said she submitted the record to the state on Papa's behalf, and will take whatever steps needed to update his address with the FDLE.
The Beach House is one of more than 50 sober living homes in the Jacksonville area.