Resident Says Six, Some in Their 60s and 70s, Told to Leave Annapolis Sober Living Home Amid Suspected Microbial Growth

Six residents of an Annapolis sober living home, including individuals reportedly in their 60s and 70s, were given approximately 48 hours to vacate after being informed that the property was being condemned, according to an occupant who contacted Report Annapolis News. 

Official City of Annapolis records, which can be read by clicking here, separately confirm a property-maintenance violation involving suspected microbial growth, raising concerns about housing stability, relocation assistance and conditions at the residence.

The concerns involve Stella House, located on Marda Lane in Annapolis, where a resident contacted Report Annapolis News on Oct. 15 describing a sudden housing crisis affecting people working to rebuild their lives following addiction.

Report Annapolis News is withholding the individual's name to protect the source's privacy given the sensitive nature of recovery and concerns involving housing security.

According to the account provided, six occupants were informed on the morning of Oct. 15 that the property was being condemned and were instructed to pack their belongings while arrangements were determined.

The source also reported that two affected residents are in their 60s and 70s, although their ages have not been independently verified.

The reported 48-hour deadline would have required occupants to leave around the morning of Oct. 17. However, the precise deadline remained unclear because communication from management had been limited, according to the resident.

In follow-up correspondence with Report Annapolis News, the resident said they had been informed that beds were available in a neighboring house, but those accommodations were being offered to only some of the occupants.

While the account indicates that some alternative housing was reportedly offered, it remains unclear which residents received offers, whether those arrangements were accepted and what additional accommodations may have been available to others.

The individual who contacted Report Annapolis News had independently located alternative housing, although the anticipated move-in date of Oct. 19 meant there could be a temporary gap in shelter and secure storage for personal belongings.

The resident emphasized that not everyone living at the home has access to family or financial resources to assist during an unexpected housing emergency.

"The most urgent issue is making sure that all six residents have somewhere safe to go and that nobody is simply left without shelter when the 48-hour period expires," the individual wrote.

City Inspection Identifies Suspected Microbial Growth

Official City of Annapolis records reviewed by Report Annapolis News confirm that a rental inspection conducted on Oct. 15 identified suspected microbial growth and resulted in a property-maintenance enforcement case.

The inspection, conducted by City Inspector Kristin Mrotek under inspection number IRENTRE-016219-2026, documented suspected microbial growth on the basement ceiling, in a second-floor bathroom and potentially within the property's ductwork.

The microbial inspection category was marked as failed, and a re-inspection was required. Numerous other categories, including smoke alarms, plumbing fixtures, electrical components and emergency exits, received passing results.

A separate property-maintenance case, PM(CC)-2026-00707, identifies the violation as "Microbial-Interior" under Section 111.1.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code, concerning unsafe structures.

The city's Notice of Violation includes provisions describing circumstances under which a structure may be considered unfit for human occupancy, including unsafe conditions, inadequate maintenance and contamination.

The notice directs the responsible party to hire a licensed mold remediation company to address suspected microbial growth in the basement, second-floor bathroom and potentially the ductwork.

Additional requirements include documentation of the company's license, pre-treatment and post-treatment mold test results, a remediation plan, a proposed timeline and progress reports to the inspector.

The city established an Oct. 29, 2026, compliance deadline and warned that a municipal infraction citation would be issued if the violations were not corrected or abated, in accordance with the city's charter and code.

The notice does not specify a monetary penalty.

Accompanying inspection records include photographs documenting areas examined during the city's review.

While the official documents confirm the property-maintenance violation and required corrective actions, the records reviewed by Report Annapolis News do not independently establish the reported 48-hour evacuation deadline or include a separate condemnation order directing occupants to leave.

Additionally, the records identify suspected microbial growth but do not include laboratory findings confirming its composition.

Resident Raises Additional Concerns About Housing Conditions

The concerns raised by the resident extend beyond the recent inspection.

After completing rehabilitation, the individual moved to Annapolis seeking a supportive sober living environment that would provide structure, accountability and an opportunity to maintain sobriety.

The resident reported living at Stella House for more than a year while continuing recovery.

"Unfortunately, that is not what I found," the individual wrote.

During their time at Stella House, the resident alleges witnessing multiple occupants relapse and what they described as the “devastating consequences of overdoses” involving people living at the residence. In subsequent correspondence with Report Annapolis News, the individual described an alleged overdose involving another occupant near the end of 2025, stating that emergency medical services responded. According to the resident, a bathroom at the property has remained damaged and unusable since that incident.

In correspondence provided to Report Annapolis News, the resident raised concerns about maintenance, recovery-related expectations and the overall operation of the residence.

The individual also questioned whether previous maintenance problems had been adequately addressed before the Oct. 15 inspection.

According to the account, concerns involving possible mold may have been brought to management's attention following an earlier inspection. Other maintenance problems allegedly remained unresolved.

Those earlier circumstances and allegations concerning the operation of the residence have not been independently corroborated by the records reviewed for this report.

Financial Concerns Complicate Reported Displacement

The reported housing situation has also raised questions about prepaid rent, security deposits and relocation assistance.

The individual reported paying monthly to live at Stella House and indicated that rent had already been paid through Oct. 26, despite being instructed to leave before that date.

The resident questioned whether unused rent or security deposits would be refunded and whether financial assistance would be available to help occupants secure alternative accommodations.

Monthly rental payments had made it difficult to accumulate sufficient savings to relocate independently, according to the individual.

"I personally feel trapped by this situation," the resident wrote. "I would have left months ago if I had been able to save enough money to move somewhere else."

The individual added, "Now, the very place I have been paying to live in has been condemned, and I am left wondering where I am supposed to go next."

For people working to maintain sobriety, stable housing can be an important part of recovery, particularly when financial resources and alternative accommodations are limited.

"Many of us are working hard to stay sober, find employment, pay our bills, and rebuild our lives after addiction," the resident wrote. "Stable housing is a critical part of that process."

While acknowledging that unsafe housing conditions may require occupants to leave, the resident emphasized that ensuring their safety should remain a priority throughout any relocation process.

The reported presence of individuals in their 60s and 70s also raises questions about whether available housing arrangements adequately account for the circumstances and needs of everyone affected.

Questions Remain About Relocation and Oversight

The circumstances have raised broader questions about the oversight of sober living residences, particularly when individuals recovering from addiction face the possibility of an unexpected loss of housing.

Among the concerns identified are whether previous maintenance issues were adequately addressed, what relocation assistance may be available, how prepaid rent and security deposits will be handled and what arrangements have been made for affected occupants.

The individual has called for further examination of Stella House, including conversations with current and former residents, a review of inspection and enforcement records and inquiries to appropriate state and local agencies regarding oversight and assistance available to those facing displacement.

Report Annapolis News reached out to Stella House and a company associated with the residence seeking comment on the reported displacement, property conditions and concerns raised by the resident. Neither had responded at the time of the latest reporting update.

Although some residents reportedly were offered accommodations in a neighboring house, Report Annapolis News has not independently confirmed whether those arrangements were accepted or whether alternative housing was secured for all six individuals following the reported Oct. 17 departure deadline.

"I am not reaching out because I want attention or special treatment," the resident wrote. "I am reaching out because I believe our experiences matter, and I do not want other people seeking recovery to find themselves in the same situation."

The individual emphasized the trust people place in sober living residences during what can be a particularly vulnerable period of their lives.

"We deserve to be heard. We deserve safe housing. And we deserve answers."

Report Annapolis News reviewed three City of Annapolis documents associated with the property, including the Oct. 15 rental inspection report, the property-maintenance case report containing inspection photographs and the official Notice of Violation. 

These records establish the city's documented findings, required corrective actions and Oct. 29 compliance deadline. Information not independently established through those documents, including the reported displacement deadline, neighboring housing arrangements and ages of affected residents, has been attributed to the individual who contacted Report Annapolis News.