Satarting Over Sober Mike Harris owner Mike Harris and Starting over Sober has been violating state counseling and fire laws for years and Commonwealth of Massachusetts LICENSING OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELORS has simply turned a "blind ey Haverhill , Massachusetts

In a previous rebuttal it was stated that 36 Green Street in Haverhill, Mass was sold to the former house manager of Starting Over Sober, Wayne Doyle. To clarify things the house was purchased by Brian McMenimen, who owns and operates the new program: Thirty-Six Green Street the Road to Recovery Living Sober. Brian has 36 years plus experience in dealing with sobriety. Wayne Doyle will be assisting Brian run the program and house. If you have any questions call (((REDACTED)))

Mike Harris, the owner of SOS ran out of money last August (2016). Hence to say the sober house shut down. With all of the code violations it was just a matter of time before the city of Haverhill shut it down. Recently the house has been sold to Wayne Doyle, who was the house manager at SOS for a number of years. Wayne also was the facilitator of the groups. He pretty much kept the program together. Both him and Andrea have several years of sobriety and working the program of AA. Knowing them both quite well and seeing how Wayne ran SOS the new sober house is going to be really good.The new sober house is called 36 Green Street Road to Recovery. The interiorof the house has been remodled. This includes new rugs and furniture. Presently the extertior is being renovated. There's still a lot of work to be done. An opening date hasn't been determined. I'll send out an update as soon as more information is available. No more Mike Harris or Starting OverSober!!!

If you have known Mike Harris for forty years, then I have sympathy for you because you must be as sick as he is - a liar, cheat and a steal. His Starting Over Sober facility, located at 36 Green Street, Haverhill, MA is a Slum Lords dream. I’ve heard from past and present residents that stayed there, the sober house has so many structural, electrical, plumbing and fire code violations that it should be condemned and closed. On Monday, February 22nd, 2016 I had a meeting with the Haverhill Building Inspector. I’m doing this for the benefit of the residents who presently reside at SOS. A full investigation is being launched and he will be receiving a certified letter and the Building, Electrical and Plumbing Inspectors will be visiting his dilapidated house on Green Street. In addition, I have notified the Haverhill Fire Chief. Mike Harris claims he is a recovering Alcoholic, however, in the 28 years I’ve been sober I have never seen him at a meeting. In addition, I know for a fact he is on the Marijuana Maintenance Plan. He doesn’t operate as a Non-Profit organization, if that was the case he would allow his residents to pay him with a check or money order, the only form of payment he accepts is CASH ONLY. Hopefully, you are smart enough to know why – if not, it’s very simple to avoid reporting rental income to the IRS. You mentioned he takes people into his own house Free-of-Charge is a false statement, Mike does nothing for free. Remember he is a Dry Drunk, self-centered to the extreme, an EGO and has the ISM’s larger than the SUN. The facility he had in Bradford, MA was arson and Mike was one of the culprits who hired someone to burn down that facility. Mike Harris presently has 11 violations against him personally, checkout Intelius if you’re a member, he is refereed as a “Person of Interest”. I Rest My Case!

2014-11-03

I am writing this in response to this complaint against Mike Harris, owner of Starting Over Sober. I have known Mike Harris for forty years plus. I have never been a client of Mike, however I am writing this in response to all these multi-allegations I am seeing against him. I see and speak with him over the years on a regular basis, we attend reunions every year also. 

Mike is an upstanding citizen and lifelong resident of Haverhill. It upsets me to see so many attacks against someone who runs a non-profit orgainzation who is in it to help individuals in need of treatment. Clients of Mr.Harris come to him for their alcoholsm on their ow volition in seeking his help with their problems, I must also add , as in any program of this nature, to remain anonymous, that being the key word here. 

The person making these allegations, of which there are so many and not just of one complaint, appears to have quite a bit of knowledge of his practice which I stated are people of anominity to remain that way. In AA once they leave a meeting no information is to be divulged. I see no other people making any attacks such as this, nor should anyone have the authority to have a list of these clients for any reason. 

I see someone who appears to have some sort of personal grudge to have put so much time and effort to attempt to initiate the defaming of Mr.Harris with no other complaints of this nature.

In closing on this opinion, I see a completely separate complaint of a totally different subject of Mr.Harris regarding neglecting firelaws and how many people he takes into his own home free of charge who have nowhere to live while in recovery. Firstly, he is a Good Samaritan to do such a thing.

Secondly, I recall speaking with Mr. Harris last year around this time close to the holidayseason in 2013. He was very distraught due to the faact he was reaching out out his personal friends for help by the devastation of coming home from being out of town with family only to find that his sober house, which I must say, was not his residence , had been burnt to the ground which at  that time had sheltered four or five homeless people in recovery and I believe it was concluded arson. This was around last year at this time. I find it ironic that whoever has all these multi complaints in 2012 allegedly stated it would take a true tragedy before something is done. Well, last year that idea became a true tragedy.

Thank You for letting me respond to this. I find it very upsetting to see an upstanding citizen who reaches out to people who come to him for their personal problems and put their trust in his hands are also victims of these circumstances.

I have made these statements of my own free will and to the best of my knowledge based on personal conversations over the years in knowing Mr.Harris as being one of my close friends over the years. I also am not making any accusations against the author of this complaint, just stating my opinion of so many complaints appears to be a personal attack against my friend, Mr. Harris' reputation.

Thought the bit about him "accepting neighbors and wives of personal friends" sounds like fun. Nice work if you can get it!

Perhaps you should "start over sober" and rewrite this complaint so that it makes sense.