A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the Town of Beekman in Dutchess County by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for preventing the operation of a sober home, alleging discrimination against people recovering from drug or alcohol abuse.
Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, made the announcement on March 5.
The lawsuit claims the Town of Beekman has violated the Fair Housing Act by not allowing Bunkhouse Recovery Ranch, otherwise known as Bunkhouse, to operate an existing residential property as a proposed sober living home.
Bunkhouse, at 237 Hynes Road in Poughquag, was founded by Patrick Potter, who is also the owner and managing director, according to the lawsuit.
The single-family home aims to assist men recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, who are not currently using those substances. The sober home would house 12 men at a time, and residents would commit 12 to 36 months in the sober living arrangement.
Further, Bunkhouse’s goal is to focus on helping veterans, first responders, and family members of veterans or first responders, proposing peer-to-peer guidance, as well as services including crisis intervention, mental health awareness, substance abuse prevention, advocacy, support services and recovery support.
“Those who are struggling to defeat their dependence on drugs or alcohol deserve support, not obstruction, especially when they are among our veterans, first responders and their families,” Clayton said in a statement. “The Fair Housing Act makes clear that individuals in recovery are protected from discrimination, and municipalities cannot use zoning classifications or procedural delays to block lawful housing.”
Background on the Bunkhouse, a proposed sober living home
Back in June 2023, Potter pursued development of this sober living home in Poughquag, allegedly receiving a positive reception from Beekman’s local officials.
Following discussions with the Beekman Town Zoning Administrator and members of the Beekman Planning Board, Potter purchased the existing residential property at 237 Hynes Road, a 4,650-square-foot home with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
However, after buying the property, it’s claimed the zoning administrator and counsel raised obstacles to prevent Bunkhouse from operating.
Notably, the town allegedly misclassified the property as an “alternate care facility or nursing home,” required Potter to submit costly and unnecessary site plans and permits, and failed to respond to Potter’s efforts to meet Beekman’s shifting requirements.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office claims sober living homes are typically operated as single-family homes. The town code defines “family,” according to the lawsuit, not as a nuclear family with relation to each other, but as one or more people living together as a single housekeeping unit, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges is consistent with the Bunkhouse’s structure and purpose.
In October 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office first contacted the town, according to the lawsuit, to avoid litigation.
Six months later, in April 2025, Potter submitted applications for a special use permit and site plan approval to meet the town’s requirements, according to the lawsuit, but Beekman officials have allegedly ignored Potter’s efforts.
What does the lawsuit ask for?
The civil rights lawsuit is seeking declaration that the town has violated the Fair Housing Act and to ensure town compliance with the Fair Housing Act.
Furthermore, the lawsuit seeks for Beekman to take steps to restore individuals, who have allegedly experienced unlawful practices, to where they would have been if the claimed discriminatory conduct did not happen.
It additionally calls for financial compensation, assessing civil penalty against the town, and relief for issues not originally addressed in the lawsuit that may come up in court to be remedied.
The case is being handled by the office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Civil Division.
“When a community refuses to treat a sober living home like any other residence, it denies individuals in recovery a fair chance to rebuild their lives,” Clayton concluded. “The women and men of this office are committed to ensuring that federal civil rights protections are fully and fairly enforced.”
Nickie Hayes is Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Lawsuit filed against Town of Beekman over sober home for veterans
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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