“My main goal is to provide a bed for someone who needs assistance, who is indigent and willing to stay clean
“He’s famous for it,” said Michael Matherson, a resident of one of the sober homes. “We’d joke about not being able to throw some of this stuff out because Phil will just bring it back.” Besides staying sober, Malonson requires all of his residents to hold a job, giving them responsibility and a means to support themselves. He drew upon the unemployed in his home to renovate the facility and arrange the merchandise. “I will give someone a week or two rent if they work down here,” he explains. “With their help, I was able to put in a new ceiling and get everything sorted.” He has no illusions of this tiny venture turning big profits for his programs. As it stands, he projects it will take the income derived from the two to three beds to pay for the ahop’s overhead. If the shop eventually makes enough to pay for itself and support two to three beds, Malonson says he’ll be happy. “For $90 a week, we provide a bed, two hot and one cold meal a day, electricity, phone and cable. This could defray at least some of the costs,” Malonson said.
The thrift shop is only one of Malonson’s current ventures. After much contention with neighbors and town officials in Saugus, he recently won approval to open 18-bed facility in a defunct nursing home. After this interview last Saturday, he opened a five-bed sober apartment for women in Medford and another small home in Salem. By March 1, he will have new homes open in Fitchburg, Lawrence, Billerica and Lowell, bringing his total capacity to more than 200 beds. “It’s worthwhile because there is such a need for it, as seen by how fast we are growing,” Malsonson said. “I’m taking people out of toxic environments and giving someplace liveable.” “You can go into any community and find a need for these houses,” said Malonson, with a bit of melancholy in his voice.
and sober.” ~ Malonson
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