Community Home for Developmentally Disabled Met With Protests

A small group home for four developmentally disabled women proposed for a residential neighborhood in San Gabriel, CA, has been plagued by controversy since first being proposed back in December 2010. The women are set to move in soon, however, protests are still being lodged against the home.

This from the Pasadena Star-News:

A home for four mentally disabled women that has stirred controversy in a San Gabriel neighborhood has been completed and approved by the city, and residents are scheduled to move in soon.

The house, in the 600 block of De Sales Street, was purchased by nonprofit group Key Community Housing in December 2010 and since then has been remodeled to fit the needs of the four women, who suffer from developmental disabilities, including autism and Down syndrome. But since the house was purchased, a neighborhood group calling itself "Protect the Neighborhood" has held regular protests against what they say is a "business" moving onto their residential street.

At a lively council meeting last January, dozens of community members and disability rights activists argued with concerned neighbors about the house. The city has continued to say that it has no power to prohibit the four women and their caretakers from moving in.

"We are required by law to treat it the same as any other single-family home," City Planner Mark Gallatin said.

Stephen Smith, spokesman for Protect the Neighborhood, said he and his neighbors continue to object to the house, and will continue to picket two or three times a month in front of the home and in front of the residence of the Key Community Housing board member who signed the deed purchasing the house.

Smith emphasized that the group has no objection to the developmentally disabled living in the neighborhood, but opposes the use of tax dollars to create these community homes and the parking and traffic issues associated with the 24-hour care at the facility, The group also supports the family members that would prefer their loved ones be housed at a large institution.

"There's a lot of nuance to it," Smith said, adding that the group also plans to protest similar homes in other areas.

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