| These are not necessarily whole neighborhoods, but | | | | same caring consideration. The elderly living in less |
| may be a single dwelling that is completely over | | | | than tolerant conditions could certainly benefit from |
| grown and looks like a junk car lot, or a salvage yard. | | | | these generous actions. To assist a local family would |
| The dwelling may be a few years or many years old. | | | | certainly put less of a budget strain on a church or |
| It may be constructed of wood, concrete, steel or | | | | organization than flying numerous people to a foreign |
| thrown together with whatever materials can be | | | | country. |
| found. But, they are unsafe, eye sores and fire | | | | Dwellings that are basically in complete disrepair, |
| hazards. | | | | uninhabited, and where the only option is demolition, |
| With dwellings that are 30 plus years old, and not | | | | could certainly be dealt with by a local church, |
| maintained, there is a really good chance no | | | | business, or organization. By the simple demolition and |
| mortgage is on the property and no homeowner | | | | removal of the debris, the value, safety and the |
| insurance. Personally, I live in an area that is heavily | | | | appearance of the neighborhood is greatly improved, |
| forested and the homes are 50-100 years old, and | | | | as is the resale potential. |
| primarily wood structures. On my street, there are | | | | Politicians and city or county offices ignore the |
| three dwellings that stand out and not because of | | | | problem and use the lack of budget as an excuse. |
| ideal conditions. | | | | That is no excuse, that is pure lack of pride, and that |
| At one dwelling, the weeds and plant growth are | | | | "I do not care attitude", or "I can not do it alone". |
| nearly as high as the house and the multitude of | | | | Politicians are so busy arguing with politicians and |
| storage buildings can no longer be seen. There is an | | | | avoiding controversy they have forgotten they are |
| above ground pool that is no longer visible. The roof | | | | elected and represent the constituency and the |
| leaks and is covered with plastic and tarps that are | | | | communities. |
| held in place by boards. The dwelling on three sides is | | | | With beautification programs and neighborhood |
| unfinished construction with nailed up press board. At | | | | clean-up incentives, attitudes, pride, and impressions |
| least the junk in the yard is no longer visible but who | | | | change. This is dealing with the slum landlords and |
| knows what wildlife is slithering around. | | | | getting people, who cannot do it themselves, into |
| The weeds are growing attached to the house, the | | | | healthy living environments. For those able, but lazy |
| air handler, and into the attic and appear to be | | | | or contrary, let the government step in and enforce |
| breaching the windows. When the air handler | | | | the laws that are in effect. When they are driving |
| overheats because of poor circulation, or rain water | | | | down the road and see a code violation, report it - |
| gets into the attic and the electrical service, you | | | | take the blinders off. |
| have an idea situation for an electrical fire. When that | | | | Companies and organizations, even your Elks, Moose, |
| house catches fire, the neighboring homes will also | | | | Rotary, Lions, American Legion, and VFW, that are |
| burn. This is a county road with no fire hydrants. The | | | | quick to help overseas, should consider helping at |
| potential for an unrestricted fire, in an area adjacent | | | | home first. Community service is community service. |
| to national forest, is a reality. | | | | Members sometimes overlook how their own |
| Across the street are two more dwellings, | | | | members are living and offer no assistance. |
| overgrown and not maintained. In older | | | | When was the last time you drove down a street |
| neighborhoods, with elderly residents, we have a | | | | and actually looked? When did we become so |
| tendency to overlook living conditions. I asked a | | | | complacent? |
| building code enforcement manager one time how | | | | In your travels, outside your home town, when you |
| these conditions can be tolerated when building codes | | | | drive down the streets in some cities do you feel an |
| exist to prevent these conditions. His answer was | | | | unspoken sense of pride? Do you feel that, when |
| that his department was short handed and, unless | | | | you drive down the streets of your home town? |
| the inspectors were paid to look for something, they | | | | Are there areas you specifically avoid because of |
| did not see it, even when they live next door to it. | | | | how they look? I am not talking about the crime |
| Neighbors do not always feel safe and are afraid to | | | | ridden neighborhoods. I am talking about the |
| report the violations when they know their neighbor | | | | neighborhoods that you do not want to be seen in. |
| has a reputation for violence and owns a gun. The | | | | Seriously people, just the idea of what a |
| condition of these dwellings has several impacts to a | | | | beautification foundation can do for a community is |
| neighborhood. They are unsafe, lower the real estate | | | | breathtaking. With fundraising, donations, tax |
| value, become havens for homeless, refuge for | | | | incentives, grant money, and funds received from |
| snakes and rodents, and of course, are an eye sore. | | | | fines and fees, improvements can and should happen. |
| Churches and other philanthropic organizations go to | | | | Build the pride back into your community. I have seen |
| foreign countries to help the residents build and | | | | more pride in third world countries than I have seen |
| rebuild, and to work toward improving their quality of | | | | in many of our towns and cities. Is that the way we |
| living. Any town in America could benefit from this | | | | want to be seen? Shame on us! |