Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Town of Beekman in Dutchess County, alleging that the town prevented Bunkhouse Recovery Ranch from operating a sober living home at an existing residential property. The suit claims this action violates the Fair Housing Act, which protects individuals with disabilities, including those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Bunkhouse Recovery Ranch aims to provide support for men in recovery, particularly veterans, first responders, and their families. According to the complaint filed in federal court in White Plains, Bunkhouse founder Patrick Potter initially received positive feedback from local officials when he sought to open the facility in June 2023. After purchasing a 4,650 square foot residential property in Beekman, Potter encountered resistance from town officials who reclassified the property as an “alternate care facility or nursing home.” The town required him to submit additional site plans and permits and did not respond to his attempts to comply with changing requirements.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated: “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. 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. 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. The women and men of this Office are committed to ensuring that federal civil rights protections are fully and fairly enforced.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office contacted Beekman in October 2024 seeking resolution without litigation but reports indicate that Beekman did not engage with Potter’s efforts. Despite submitting applications for special use permits and site plan approval in April 2025 as requested by the town, Potter’s applications have gone unanswered for ten months.
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on disability status—including people recovering from substance abuse who are not currently using illegal drugs—and requires equal treatment regarding housing opportunities.
Complaints about housing discrimination can be submitted through the Civil Rights Complaint Form available on the United States Attorney’s Office website (https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/civil-rights) or by mail or email addressed to the Chief of the Civil Rights Unit at 86 Chambers Street, New York.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Kennedy and Tomoko Onozawa of the Civil Rights Unit are handling this case.
