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Samantha Hayes ReportingA home for boys with mental disabilities and criminal records –it’s a combination Holladay neighbors don't want on their street.
Holladay citizens are fighting the possibility of a youth treatment center in their neighborhood. Tonight they held a silent protest, hoping to send a very loud message.
The home that the company "Futures through Choices" would like to use as a treatment facility is just around the block from a neighborhood united against the idea.
G. Gordan, Holladay: “The fact is, I have a twelve year old daughter. The fact is my twelve year old daughter means an awful lot to me."
A Utah company wants a home in the neighborhood for treating disabled teenagers under court jurisdiction. The State says the home should also have the capability of treating sex offenders.
Company CEO Jerry Jefferies invited neighbors into the home to discuss concerns. Several neighbors took that opportunity...but others objected to the home with a silent protest.
Jerry Jefferies, Futures Through Choices: “I've been in group home for 20-25 years. It’s my experience that they are safe, by and large, the ones that are well run."
The request for business license sent to the city states that all the youth that would possibly live in this home have some form of developmental disability and that qualifies as handicapped, and therefore they are not allowed to be discriminated against under both state and federal law.
Brandon Baker, Concerned Citizens for Safety in Holladay: “We have gone so far as to contact our u.s. senators to inform them of this and ask for their help in setting up a guideline that the fair housing act doesn't apply to criminals."
Jefferies says the Department of Youth Correction tries to place juveniles in the right setting.
Jerry Jefferies: “There has been a pretty thorough assessment that the kid in fact would benefit from a community based setting."
Neighbors say, not in this community.
Melanie Baker: “These young men, although we have sympathy for them needing treatment, this is not the appropriate setting. "
A business license has not yet been issued to "Futures Through Choices" for the group home. There is an official Holladay city meeting at Olympus high school on 27th.
