GAHANNA, Ohio -- Some Gahanna residents on Sunday spoke out against a proposed live-in facility for people recovering from mental illnesses.
NBC 4 reported with BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY.
The complex is called Melissa's House. Melissa’s House would be a 10‐unit one‐bedroom apartment building. In addition, the building would include common space for residents to socialize and connect.
It would offer those recovering from mental illness the chance to live on their own.
Some said they just aren't comfortable with the idea, though.
More than 50 people attended a meeting about the facility in Gahanna Sunday.
"These will be persons disabled with mental-health issues who are stable in their illness and working towards independence," CEO of the Community Housing Network, Inc., Anthony Penn said. "The housing will help that."
Some neighbors of the proposed site said they aren't so sure it's the best location to house people with mental illnesses.
The Melissa's House Foundation is looking to rezone a 2.3-acre wooded lot with a ravine running through it on Beecher Crossing North in Gahanna.
The site is located just east of Hamilton Road and south of Morse Road.
"We're just concerned about that community of people who will be wandering around -- people who don't restrain themselves very much." said Dr. Bill Myers, an opponent of the proposed location.
Myers said he isn't comfortable not knowing the diagnoses of the residents, and he doesn't like the fact residents won't be monitored 24/7.
Penn pointed out there will be social services on-site.
"It's unfortunate that we still live in a time where people aren't really familiar with the disease of mental illness," Penn said.
Myers said that's not the point.
"We don't fear or anguish over the mentally ill," Myers said. "We obviously have concerns that it will affect our insurance rates, that it will affect our property values or the desirability of our property for sale."
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