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

[OldBlondBabe]

I found out over the summer that a house on my street (just a handful of houses away) is now a "group home". According to another neighbor the residents are "highly to moderately trainable adults". Supposedly there is one adult supervisor there for about every 4-5 residents.

There has already been at least one incident; one of the residents was off his meds, flopping around on the neighbors pool cover and wouldn't leave. I've just recently found out that one of the residents is on the Public Sex Offender Registry---his offense, criminal sexual conduct- third degree (multi variables.)

I live in an affluent suburb of Detroit, in Oakland County. The homes here average around $300,000...it's a nice area.

I'm looking for advice and guidance. I have kids,one of which is a 13-year old girl. Thanks in advance for your help and direction.

[nonkultur]

Check if your neighborhood is actually zoned for such a home.

[Jeff Chandler]

I was ready to advise you to calm down- that the presence of mentally retarded people is nothing to worry about, but the sex offender stuff is indeed something to worry about.

[Jeff Chandler]

Check with the appropriate authorities. County, state, city, section 8, etc.. Sometimes it appears as though nothing can be done until you figure out which governmental agency you need to contact.

[Boxcar]

The sad thing is, you home value just dropped by 1/3. You must tell any potential buyer of the neighbors, because it is material to the homes value.

I don't think there is much you can do about it.

[OldBlondBabe]

MULTIPLE VARIABLES/CIRCUMSTANCES (CSC OFFENSES):

1. Victim under 13 years old

2. Victim 13, 14, 15/Blood-Affinity

3. Victim 13, 14, 15/Same Household

4. Victim 13, 14, 15/Position of Authority

5. Felony

6. Multiple Actors/Force

7. Multiple Actors/Victim Incapacity

8. Weapon

9. Personal Injury/Force

10. Personal Injury/Victim Incapacity

11. Victim 13, 14, 15 years old

12. Victim’s Incapacity

13. Force or Coercion

a. Actual Application

b. Threats

c. Extortion

d. Medical Treatment

e. Element of Surprise

OFFENSES

750.520B,C,D,E. CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT:

1st Degree: includes Penetration plus any one of circumstances 1-10
Penalty: Felony; any number of years in prison with life maximum.

2nd Degree: includes Contact plus any one of circumstances 1-10
Penalty: Felony; up to 15 years in prison

3rd Degree: includes Penetration plus either circumstance 11, 12, 13
Penalty: Felony; up to 15 years in prison

4th Degree: includes Contact plus either circumstance 12 or 13 (except "e")
Penalty: Misdemeanor; up to 2 years in jail.

From here: http://www.mipsor.state.mi.us/mipsor/mipsorex.htm

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Well, actually, there is lots that COULD be done about it. Whether something SHOULD or WILL be done about it is a different story.

[OldBlondBabe]

Seems a little bass-ackward to me. I have to inform others, but nobody bothered to inform me or any of the other homeowners in the neighborhood. Interesting thing...the house is located directly across the street from the home of the city's mayor.

[Fatalis]

" I'm looking for advice and guidance. I have kids,one of which is a 13-year old girl. Thanks in advance for your help and direction. "

Don't move in!

[fat city]

Assuming the "residents" live with home owners- figure about $1,500./resident/month- 4-5 residents/"supervisor"- pretty nice gig. Good luck- the gvmnt loves to pay to "privately institutionalize" undesirables.

[OldBlondBabe]

" I'm looking for advice and guidance. I have kids,one of which is a 13-year old girl. Thanks in advance for your help and direction. "

Don't move in!

What do you mean by "don't move in?" I've lived here for over 10 years.

[fieldmarshaldj]

There goes the neighborhood !

[Thinkin' Gal]

the house is located directly across the street from the home of the city's mayor.

Is the mayor looking to purchase more real estate in the neighborhood, at rock-bottom prices?

[radicalamericannationalist]

Contact a radio show. In SoCal, we had a show block one of these from coming in and getting a toe hold for the companies plans for more.

[Chemist_Geek]

Hmm. What would you have them do?

Pay Aunt Jenny more and more taxes so she can re-open the State Hospitals? What about the people who own property near those?

Or are you just a NIMBY?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I'm not sure that's the case - it may be in Michigan, but in Washington, you are not responsible for telling potential buyers about neighborhood issues. Researching the neighborhood is something the buyer is expected to do. You are only responsible for telling them things directly related to your personal structure. (At least according to a realtor friend of mine.)

[loudzoo]

I say don't worry. Developmentally disabled adults have a right to integrate and enjoy society also.

It has been the trend for recent years to move toward small group homes for this segment of the population rather than institutions.

My experience is that the homes are well kept and well maintained. The residents are polite and friendly.

=8-]

[drhogan]

there was a sex offender living in our neighborhood, and i think some sort of group home, which caused several "incidents". i have girls, the youngest of whom is 13.
basically, if you have girls, you have to train them to watch out for a lot of different types of dangerous guys. we live in NY, so i recently had to tell my daughters what to do if terrorists take over their school. (get out very fast). i used to warn them about serial murderers (the good old days), and it may have saved one of them.
my middle daughter just went to Stanford (where my wife was almost raped about 30 years ago in a dorm) so i warned that daughter about drunken guys.
there are no really safe places for young girls.
all you can really do is train them to be aware, and to get away fast if something happens. that will usually be good enough.
i think every setting has potential sex criminals in it, no matter where you live. girls (and probably boys as well) need to be trained in predator survival skills.
one of my daughters was in france a couple of years ago, so i had to warn her about the immigrants in paris who were raping girls. she actually encountered some hostile (immigrant)weird guy in a laundromat, so i was glad i warned her.
if just goes on and on.
there is a crime prevention expert in south africa who has written some good stuff. you can google south africa + crime prevention and probably find his writings. i learned quite a bit from him.

[Fatalis]

I refuse to disclose my personal structure to people I've never met.

[Graybeard58]

The sex offender is another matter but if these folks are truly retarded I figure they got a free pass to heaven coming and may be on the zoning committe there.

Reckon they'll let you in?