Keep Rehab Houses Out of Neighborhoods

Re “Estate Owners Can’t Stop Rehab House,” July 12: People believe in homes for the disadvantaged, but “not in my backyard”; and after running one, I’d have to agree. Many of these homes are noisy, boring and dirty, with nonstop TV, no privacy and mutual abuse among the residents of the home (the retarded, aged, mentally ill, alcoholic, etc). A lot of this is because of their “rights” and because it’s easier for staff to go along with it. Neighbors chafe over parking, yelling, profanity, panhandling, poor grooming and attire, depressed behavior, traffic in and out of the house, etc. Homes are run permissively despite what is claimed, especially smaller homes.

These homes should be located outside residential neighborhoods and be run and monitored by competing private agencies. They should use a boot-camp approach to instilling traditional values; difficult to the point that those residents who are able to improve and move have every reason to.

Al Garner

Midway City