At this meeting residents asked for profiles of all four ladies, wanted to know if their living in the neighborhood would lower property values and questioned whether they were “fit” to live in a “regular” neighborhood. Meeting attendees questioned why a government agency would be purchasing such a nice home when they could get a cheaper house in another neighborhood. They questioned whether the home would be kept up nicely and who would be coming to visit these ladies.

They also requested profiles on the staff that would be in the home 24/7. They actually held a vote (nonbinding of course)on whether to “allow” our organization to purchase this home.

The vote outcome is irrelevant as we did in fact purchase the home and these four young ladies moved in and they are still living there eight years later and are now an accepted part of the community. Ignorance clearly breeds unfounded fear, as is the case with County Commissioner Corey Johnson.