Lake County Group Gearing Up To Fight Homeless Plan
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A group of Lake County residents has formed a community organization, and begun pooling money, to fight a plan to move chronically homeless people suffering from mental illnesses to a residential neighborhood near Lake Zurich.
Calling themselves Residents For An Engaged Community, they have raised about $20,000 so far to fight the plan by PADS Lake County to 14 homeless people with mental illnesses from a North Chicago hospital campus to an apartment building near Lake Zurich, called Midlothian Manor.
Closed since it was last used as a senior living facility in 2010, the vacant 14-unit building is owned by the Lake County Housing Authority. Neighbors have raised several concerns about the plan for PADS to rent the building, including the impact on crime and property values.
LCHA executive director David Northern told the Daily Herald the group opposed to the plan is misinformed about the plan and he's confident local residents will welcome their new neighbors, who include veterans.
Those opposing the plan have hired an attorney, and are considering their options.