Despite rumors to the contrary, Shepherd’s House is not opening a halfway house at 633 North Third Street in Danville, according to the leader of the organization.

“It is not a halfway house. It is not a treatment center. It is not a methadone clinic,” said Jerod Thomas, president and CEO of Shepherd’s House.

The house is being purchased from Mike Harmon and is currently under contract; Shepherd’s House plans to take ownership on Jan. 31. Thomas said there was a 30-day closing window on the house.

The house is being bought to be a rental house, in order to bring in money for Shepherd’s House, Thomas said. The plan is to rent out the property through a limited liability company in Lexington, which owns other rental properties in other Kentucky cities, including Morehead and Lexington. The money generated from the rental properties helps the Shepherd’s House stay free for clients in Lexington.

“Four guys paying rent is cheaper than one guy paying rent,” he said.

The people who live in the rental properties must show a history of employment, good credit and sobriety.

“These (renters) will have the same rental contracts as anyone in Boyle County,” Thomas said.

Many of the clients at Boyle County’s Shepherd’s House Intensive Outpatient Program would not qualify to live in the house, Thomas said. Some of the program’s graduates might, but they would have to show they’ve been clean and working consistently.

“Being a recovering addict does not qualify you or disqualify you,” he said. “If you think someone’s going to be released from prison on Monday and renting on Tuesday — that’s not going to happen.”

Thomas said they plan to hold a community meeting in February for residents in the area to learn more about the point of the property.

“I love Boyle County … I was adopted in when I came here as director — my life has only gotten better,” he said. “… We wouldn’t do anything illegal — a halfway house in a residential area is illegal.”

Thomas said he was surprised at the reactions the property purchase had caused and how quickly the rumors had spread.

Ultimately, Thomas said, Shepherd’s House plans to do some work to the house in order to “flip it” and sell it.

“I think it’ll be an easy flip,” he said.

According to realtor.com, the home sits on a .47 acre lot, has three bedrooms, one full and one half bath, and is about 2,100 square feet. It was listed at $154,900. Thomas said it appraised for closer to $157,000. It was sold via an online auction; Thomas said Shepherd’s House bought it for $99,500. They also had to pay a $10,000 fee for the online auction format.

It will likely be March before anyone can move into the house.

“I’ve heard everything … None of that’s true,” Thomas said. “It’s simply a piece of rental property. If someone would call me and offer $150,000 tomorrow, I’d take it.”