Neighbors Shocked by Group Home in Subdivision

Updated 7/28/07 6:00pm The controversy over a group homes move to a Vanderburgh county subdivision continues. Residents met Saturday morning with the Executive Director of ResCare the Louisville based group home at the center of it all. Close to fifty families showed up at the McCutchanville Fire Department for a meeting that allowed both sides to ask and answer questions. Questions about whether the establishment of a group home in the middle of a neighborhood would have a negative impact on those around it. Exec, Director, ResCare Robert Spicuzza says the individuals living in the group home are some of the kindest people you ever want to meet. He says the ladies in the home have learning disabilities have never had an issue with neighbors and do not present danger to children. He also invited residents to come tour the home to see how the facility is run. Once the meeting was done though it was decided that residents would make a list of recommendations related to parking and the exterior of the home to ResCare. ResCare is then expected to reply in writing listing the conditions that they agree to accept. Thursday, 7/26/07 Louisville based ResCare health services says between six and eight developmentally disabled adults are living in a home in the northside subdivision in Vanderburgh county. Thats just one of several such homes that dot quiet suburban subdivisions around Evansville that are used as group homes. That was news to homeowners in the neighborhood, who found out recently about the group home near them. "They have to live," said neighbor George Nix, "but let them live like humans, not stacked like cord wood." Nix and several other neighbors are concerned about the number of adults sharing what was supposed to be a single family home. "One family housing, thats all thats supposed to be here," Nix said, referring to a strict neighborhood covenant that restricts the look of homes, forbids yard barns, and forbids on street parking after dusk. But that covenant does not apply to this particular type of group home, according to Indiana law. Neighbors worry that the group home here will bring down property values, and present a liability issue for property owners. "One of the neighbors looked out to see one of the tenants looking in through their door," Nix said. He accuses ResCare of being a bad neighbor. But ResCare spokeswoman Nel Taylor said Thursday that her company is actually doing just the opposite, but helping adults who have traditionally been institutionalized learn to live in peace in a neighborhood setting. ResCare staffers work in the homes in shifts to help the residents learn to adjust, but neighbors say that adds to the on street parking problem. Nel Taylor urged those living near the group home to get to know the residents, and to call the company with specific concerns. Once neighbors meet the residents, Taylor says, they wont be so concerned about them living there. George Nix and several other neighbors have scheduled a Saturday meeting with ResCare managers, but with little legal recourse, they may have to follow Nel Taylors advice.