Have just found out a "group home" is in my neighborhood.

[null and void]

I'm looking for advice and guidance. I have kids,one of which is a 13-year old girl.

12 gauge. Make sure they KNOW you have it.

[Lazamataz]

If I've worn out the ones I've got, I'll let you know. ;)

Kay. I'll be waiting.

[antivenom]

That's a shame...here in Texas they post pictures. Good luck...stay on your toes, and be vigilent...as for your daughters...arm them with knowledge.

[Nowhere Man]

Well I live next to a group home for mentally retarded adults. When thet first came here in 1992, the first batch was young men who they had trouble controlling and sometimes got out and caused trouble, but since that, it is more of a home for older ladies who are retarded. I can see the safety issue, two years ago, their house caught fire but has since been rebuilt. Another issue is the care they get, can the people they hire care for them correctly, especially on the safety issue as well as provide medications they need. They basically hire off the street and the turnover rate is high.

I'm sort of mixed on the whole thing, it depends on the people they care for, can they function in society reasonably well? Can they behave? It's a shame but htere are people because of crimes or even if they are retarded, cannot function in society very well and more extensive care is needed. If we answer these concerns, again, you have the caliber of care. What if something goes wrong, are the caretakers able to respond well enough?

If not done to the best of standards, the welfare of all will suffer, from the patients, to the neighborhood, to the community at large.

In my case, everything seems quiet, except for the fire two years ago.

In your case, sounds like with the potential sex offenders and drug addicts, I'd fight that tooth and nail. There is a difference between the retarded who need help and convicted felons with crimes against kids and so on.

[nomad]

For starters, what about flyers to let all in the neighborhood know? Then a strategy session to raise money for an attorney to fight this.

[OldBlondBabe]

"In your case, sounds like with the potential sex offenders and drug addicts, I'd fight that tooth and nail. There is a difference between the retarded who need help and convicted felons with crimes against kids and so on."

Thank you. Seems many who have called me names have overlooked that fact the at least one resident is a sex offender and the other cannot be controlled when he is "off his meds".

The neighbors who found a resident in their pool have removed several large, mature trees in order to erect a 6-foot high stockade fence (at their expense). In addition to the safety of their children, they are concerned about their liability if one of the residents should drown in their pool.

[wtc911]

I am 100% certain that it is not the seller's responsibility to reveal factors about the neighborhood, even if a convicted killer were living next door. If there is some environmental hazard, such as a fuel tank buried in the backyard that could leak, the seller should but is not bound by law to reveal that fact. If the tank were to leak post-sale, the EPA could come after both the new and old owners.

[Nowhere Man]

You're welcome. There are a lot of factors to consider as I put in my last message. I'm not totally against the idea of group home nor for them until I have the facts to make a decision whether I'm for them or not. Next door, we have nice old ladies who are patients and as long as they are well cared for, then it is OK for them to be in society. The first batch of young men were a handful to say the least and in their case, they were too rowdy for a group home. One time, in 1992/93, they chucked a rock at my house and almost got the window where one of my cats, Pansy, my calico cat, was laying at. She took off like a bullet out of a rifle. BTW, Pansy, is laying next to me as I type this, she just turned 17 last month, she looks like she's 1 or 2 though and acts like it. B-)

As long as they can live in society with a minimum of trouble, I really have no problems with group homes for mentally retarded, troubled youth, people who need mental care, etc., (also as long as the staff is competenent enough to handle their needs too, it's a two way street) but I draw the line with hardened criminals and drug abusers who have no direction in life and are prone to violence.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Group homes are not good to live near. They are either a bunch of losers, druggies, criminals etc. Even the ol folks home will bring endless, blasting sirens everytime one of um falls and can't get up. Group homes should be completely banned for single family neighborhoods.

Get several neighbors together and hire an attorney.

[ZOTnot]

Two fatal (revealing of your personal bias) flaws in your post:

The words, 'apparently', and 'finds out'.

Supposition and innuendo once again. (So what else did I expect?)

When will all of you detractors finally decide that people with diminished mental capacity have a right to be here (equally) among the rest of us without discrimination or outright hate? Should we just 'off them' so as to rid them from society? Would that make you feel any better?

[OldBlondBabe]

"When will all of you detractors finally decide that people with diminished mental capacity have a right to be here (equally) among the rest of us without discrimination or outright hate?"

Good grief. Read my remarks. One of the residents trespassed into a neighbors pool and might have drowned. He was "off his meds" and obviously unsupervised. Another resident's name is listed on the state's sex offender registry. According to the registry, his offense includes PENETRATION. That means RAPE. Rape is violence. Get it? I'm not worried about diminished mental capacity here, I'm worried about non-supervision and violence.

[Sofa King]

'Recently found out' may be as a result of additional neighborhood gossip which often serves to mobilize neighbors to oppose group homes they know nothing about.

This is your personal speculation.

[ZOTnot]

Yes, it MAY BE speculation, but the fact remains you and I do not know within the context of the entire story what may be fact and what may be neighborhood speculation or innuendo. Insofar as I am able to ascertain at this point it is largely neighorhood hysteria. Not in my backyard syndrome. (NIMBY). In the meantime, people with disabilities suffer the fallout from insensitive people perpetuating stories and threads such as these regarding their 'behaviors' in group homes and in neighborhoods.

Any group homes in YOUR own neighborhood, or have you managed to run them out as well, along with your 'neighbors?.' Visited one lately, in order to understand who might be living there? Might be surprised to find they are looking for acceptance among the mainstream population.

[Sofa King]

Yes, it MAY BE speculation,

No, it IS speculation. Until you bring some evidence to back up your speculation, it shall remain that way, and the author has more credibility on this than you do.

[ZOTnot]

Sorry,

The 'evidence' is not MY responsibility insofar as I am able to ascertain:

There are no FACTS in this story. That is the point. The author reports only what she hears from neighbors about the group home and its residents. Nothing substantial is offered to us who are readers from the 'police abuse registry' nor has any EVIDENCE been been posted otherwise. Nothing regarding the group home itself has been posted (did the State close it? Is it the subject of special monitoring? What is its name? Where is it located?). Nothing regrading the group home's typical (annual) licensing visit by the State has been posted. Nothing is substantiated on the official record or otherwise offered here whatsoever by the author.

She has no crediblity with me. And she has nothing to stand upon but innuendo and gossip.

As we say in cards, 'GO FISH.'

by the way, did you manage to run a group home out of YOUR neighborhood, feeding upon discrimination and innuendo, or are you simply practicing, like the author, to do so?

[ZOTnot]

Given your circumstances, and your 300,000 dollar home, you should MOVE immediately!

People with disabilities could RUIN your property. Get out now, while you still can do so!

Lots of others on this thread will support your decision.

We MUST NOT allow people who are different from us to adversely consequate our property values!

Don't bother checking the facts: Go with what your neighbors have reported to you in the way of rumors and innuendo. No doubt they are very reliable sources of information.

People who live in group homes are rapists, sexual predators, and peeping Toms. Nor can the home operators who are, for the most part, national companies, be expected to protect you.

And watch out if you have a swimming pool: It will only go more badly for you! Those people with disabilities will undoubtedly flop all over your pool cover.

/sarcasm off.

[Sofa King]

The author is asking for advice, not making a case before a grand jury. Your excessive demands for some kind of proof that she has a real problem just to disprove your self-important speculation are ridiculous. Also, the author has stated more than once that she has gathered real information about the situation. Your, on the other hand, are in a position to know exactly nothing whatsoever.

by the way, did you manage to run a group home out of YOUR neighborhood, feeding upon discrimination and innuendo, or are you simply practicing, like the author, to do so?

Did you run over a group of children with your car today in your apparent quest to find reasons to look down on other people?

[Chemist_Geek]

Here's an expanation of this guy's conviction. We're talking about rape of a child.

Not necessarily - look at #12. A fellow resident of a group home would be incapable of consent.

[ZOTnot]

My post is about discrimination. Obviously, you advocate for it along with the orginal author.

Your point about running over children has little to do with anything relevant.

See ya.

[Sofa King]

Your point about running over children has little to do with anything relevant.

It is every bit as relevant as the strawman attacks that have accompanied your decision to use this thread for your own self-satisfying posturing.