Police Came and Shut Down the House and Now People are Homeless

[leftyladyfrommo]

We have such a mess in my neighborhood. We have a family that is just bad news. And not very smart. And he's a very heavy drinker. And his brothers show up and they all drink together. They have no car. They have no jobs - just disability and probably food stamps.

They are not violent and do not pose a threat to anyone.

The police were called 22 times in one month - a lot due to fighting among the family members. The really stupid thing is that they call the police on themselves most of the time.

But here is the problem. These people have lived in their little house for 17 years. The taxes are up-to-date.

The police got sick of the situation and called City Codes who closed up the house for codes violations - mainly, they need a new electrical box. And I guess there is some bowing out of the foundation blocks due to years of pressure from the hill above them. And the city is talking about simply razing the house. Believe me there are lots worse houses in this city and they don't get razed for 20 years.

So now these people have no where to live. And it is a huge mess. For a while they just hung out in the back yard of the house. This morning they were huddled up on the corner by me - wrapped in blankets.

We are going nuts. If the city would just let them back in their house they would at least have a place to stay.

Does anyone if the city can legally just decide to shut a house down and then tear it down - because the people are too much trouble for the police?

[NNadir]

1. Man that is wierd.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. You should try living in the middle of all of this.

It's really awful.

These people are a mess, no doubt about it. But I had no idea the city could just condemn a house just because the inhabitants are difficult.

And really, they aren't all that difficult. They just mainly get into fights with each other. They don't engage the neighbors or anything.