“Ex-prisoners next door?” update: Neighbors say lease canceled

| Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox, an update from Bill, who had sent us first word of Sound Mental Health renting a house near 32nd/Holden for potential use in the Re-entry Housing Pilot Program for people released from jail/prison (original WSB story, with more than 70 comments, can be found here): Bill says SMH told neighbors it is pulling out of the lease, with the homeowner’s agreement. Bill adds, “Our neighborhood is relieved we won’t have to deal with this experiment but we are nonetheless saddened that this could be thrust upon another block in the community without any prior notice. The program has some serious flaws and needs further media, political and public scrutiny.”

Yardwork0 July 30, 2008 (9:21 pm)

There is already a “re-enty house” in the area of 18 SW/SW Cloverdale st.

Bill July 30, 2008 (9:44 pm)

Thank you WSB for the opportunity to voice our concerns and your coverage of this story. You truly do provide a tremendous community service and I hope that everyone who reads this blog understands and appreciates the hard work and ability to simply cover the story that you display time and time again. It truly is a rare thing in “traditional” media outlets; let alone blogs!!

Our goal in contacting you was to shed light on this program and at the very least make people aware of it. If you love this program, hate this program or are still on the fence, at least you know about it now.

My only hope is that everyone who has so passionately debated this topic via posts on this blog will, when faced with an issue that you feel passionate about, walk away from your computer, go out the door and meet your neighbors. You might be surprised at what you can accomplish. I know I was.

Tom O'Brien July 31, 2008 (6:59 am)

Guess what, every one of those people is going to be living next door to somebody.

Another news flash: people in West Seattle commit crimes too.

MAS July 31, 2008 (9:19 am)

Tom O’Brien – Do you seriously think that an average West Seattlite commits crimes with the same likelihood as a convicted felon? I don’t think anyone opposing housing convicted felons across the street from a daycare with almost no supervision really believes that eliminating that threat eliminates all threats. It just reduces one that’s well defined and obvious.

Laura July 31, 2008 (9:41 am)

Thank you so much for your coverage of this issue! I live a few blocks away with my two young children and it is a huge relief to know the lease was canceled!

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