Horizon Recovery Center
Safety. Stability. Responsible Care.
Derya Őzeş, M.S., M.A., LMFT I Chief Operating Officer I Horizon Services Apr. 15, 2026 | San Mateo City Council Special Meeting
We Heard Your Concerns Clearly
Key Concerns:
• Location & proximity
• Safety & neighborhood impact
• Day-to-day operations
• Process & transparency
What Changes Now:
• Ongoing engagement
• Clear, accessible information
• Accountability & responsiveness
The Question Is Not Whether — It’s How
These challenges already exist. The question is how they are managed:
Unmanaged Managed
Emergency rooms Structured
Law enforcement Medically supervised
Public spaces Treatment-focused
Reality:
• These concerns are being raised by multiple communities • Not unique to one location
• Requires responsible system design
A Structured, Medically Supervised Treatment
Facility
Services Include:
• Sobering & rapid linkage to care
• Medically supervised withdrawal management
• Residential treatment (24/7 supervision)
• Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT)
Who This Serves:
• Individuals who have chosen to enter
treatment
• Structured program with accountability
What This is Not:
• A shelter
• Unsupervised
• Drop-in access
Every Location Raises Important Concerns
Proximity
Safety
Neighborhood
impact
Across the county, these concerns are consistent.
What matters:
• Safe operations
• Strong oversight
• Clear accountability
• Coordination with public agencies
• Responsive issue resolution
Designed for Control, Not Risk
24/7 Oversight
• Professional staffing at all
times
• Controlled access &
supervision
Clear Boundaries
• No loitering
• No client parking
• Safe, orderly operations
Community Integration
• Ongoing communication
• Coordination with public
agencies
• Responsive issue resolution
A Controlled, Accountable Care Environment
Structured intake
& supervision
Coordination with
public safety
Defined incident
protocols
Discharge Is Planned:
• Begins at intake
• Coordinated next step in care
• Transportation provided
Clear Standard: No release to surrounding streets
Strengthening Transparency & Engagement
We heard the need for stronger engagement
Moving forward:
• Ongoing dialogue
• Timely information sharing
• Responsive communication
New Resource:
horizonsanmateo.org
Live FAQ + updates + engagement opportunities
What Happens in Practice
• Facilities operate in community settings
• Including near schools and residential areas
What we see:
• Structured, supervised environments
• Issues handled internally by trained staff
Outcome:
Not exported into the surrounding
community
Getting This Right. Together.
Shared Priorities:
• Safety
• Transparency
• Accountability
Our Commitment:
• Continued engagement
• Constructive dialogue
• Responsible, stable
implementation