Operator of complaint-ridden homes leaves the neighborhood

Following neighborhood complaints, two zoning violations and concerns about swapping residents’ food stamps for rent, organizers of the questionable halfway house were recently evicted from their three Northwest Side rental properties.

Pastor Darryl Willhite opened Krystal Lighthouse Ministries about three months ago, hoping to help the needy and homeless. He rented three homes — one north of Pima Community College’s West Campus and two others near West Ina and North Thornydale roads — where he tried to set up a self-described “Christian Rehabilitation Center.”

To make ends meet, Willhite was asking his homeless residents to “donate” $400 a month. If they couldn’t afford the donation, he took food stamps as payment.

Many of the houses were short on beds, meaning residents slept on either the floors or on a handful of couches. There was also no heat because Willhite said he had an outstanding bill with Southwest Gas Corporation.

Willhite claimed he was working with a number of area non-profits for placements at Krystal Lighthouse. But those non-profits — COPE Community Services, CODAC Behavioral Health Services and Gospel Rescue Mission — all denied having any relationship with either Willhite or Krystal Lighthouse. Willhite also claimed Krystal Lighthouse was a non-profit, but offered no proof of that status.

A zoning hearing was set for Feb. 14 for violations at the two homes near Ina and Thornydale, where Willhite was cited for operating a halfway house without a permit, following complaints of nearby residents concerned about foot traffic in the neighborhood.

But the hearing was cancelled “because they have completely cleared out,” said Pat Thomas, chief zoning inspector for Pima County. “The owner of the property had called to say he had kicked them out because they weren't paying rent.”

Over the span of three months, Willhite only managed to pay $1,000, even though rent for each of the homes ranged from $2,500 to $3,000, said Colin Reilly, vice president of Harvest Properties.

“I feel stupid getting suckered into it,” Reilly said. “He (Willhite) is a master of the half-truth.” Numerous efforts to reach Willhite were unsuccessful.