Awhile back I wrote an article on how to spot an illegal alien overcrowded house in your community. I had wanted to write this article after that one but had to postpone it until I had gotten back from Sierra Vista/Hereford, AZ where I was volunteering to assist the evacuees of the Monument fire. That fire is one of five that have started either in Mexico or on the border by illegal aliens and drug traffickers. To recap the first article, there were about six different ways to spot overcrowded housing in your community. Multiple cars with out of state plates, blankets or sheets covering the windows, small dumpster for trash yet no construction is going on, multiple bicycles but no children living in the house, increased gang graffiti in the area are all indications of crowded homes in your neighborhood. Let's go over what you can do once you locate an overcrowded home in your community.
First you have to know what type of town or county agency you need to report the home to. In some areas it will be the Sheriff's office. In others it will be the Department of Public Safety and still in other places it will be Code Enforcement. In my area Code Enforcement would be the ones to contact in these cases. Also, know your local town and county codes regarding how many unrelated adults can live in one home. In my area it is no more than four unrelated adults living in one home. The number of bedrooms in the home may also have something to do with it. For example, in a four bedroom home, up to four unrelated adults can live in it in my neck of the woods. There may also be codes as to how many vehicles are allowed on the property. That can also depend on the number of bedrooms.
When you have located the correct agency to report to, you will need to collect evidence. You cannot just walk into the agency and say, "This house at this address is overcrowded." In some places that may work and the reported address would be put on the list of homes to check out. Mostly though, you will need some video or photographic evidence to back up your claims. Also, you may need to file a complaint and have one or two people from that block file one too. Collecting evidence is easier than it sounds. The best kind of video evidence is filming the people leaving for work, and returning to the home. Make sure the camera is stable and you do not just zoom in to the point where you cannot tell what home they are coming out of. Same goes for photos. Clear, precise photos showing those people coming from the house will be your strongest argument. Also film and photo all the cars, bicycles, dumpsters and windows without proper coverings. Film anything else you think is important to document. Proper evidence to back up your argument will be your strongest ally in gaining credibility with the authorities.
Overcrowded housing is becoming a big problem in many communities. With it brings gang activity, increased crime and stresses the sewer and sanitation systems of our communities. It also leads to reduced property values. Homes were designed for one family to enjoy, not ten or twenty people. Garbage pickup was designed so a family can put out up to two or three pails at any one time. Some homes on my block put out four and five at a time already stressing the system. And these are homes that just house one family. Can you imagine the stress on the system where homes put out eight or more pails because twenty people are crammed into it? One final piece of advice is to ask firefighters about overcrowded homes. They often know the locations as these homes have illegal wiring that cause fires. Some will be reluctant to tell you but hopefully enough realize the problem and will supply you with addresses to collect evidence on.
One final note I have to say is please become involved in the fight. Too many Americans refuse to get involved because of a fear of retribution. All this can be done without naming yourself. Even the complaints you may have to sign to get the investigation going should be able to be done without public knowledge of who signed the complaint. Good luck and good hunting.
First you have to know what type of town or county agency you need to report the home to. In some areas it will be the Sheriff's office. In others it will be the Department of Public Safety and still in other places it will be Code Enforcement. In my area Code Enforcement would be the ones to contact in these cases. Also, know your local town and county codes regarding how many unrelated adults can live in one home. In my area it is no more than four unrelated adults living in one home. The number of bedrooms in the home may also have something to do with it. For example, in a four bedroom home, up to four unrelated adults can live in it in my neck of the woods. There may also be codes as to how many vehicles are allowed on the property. That can also depend on the number of bedrooms.
When you have located the correct agency to report to, you will need to collect evidence. You cannot just walk into the agency and say, "This house at this address is overcrowded." In some places that may work and the reported address would be put on the list of homes to check out. Mostly though, you will need some video or photographic evidence to back up your claims. Also, you may need to file a complaint and have one or two people from that block file one too. Collecting evidence is easier than it sounds. The best kind of video evidence is filming the people leaving for work, and returning to the home. Make sure the camera is stable and you do not just zoom in to the point where you cannot tell what home they are coming out of. Same goes for photos. Clear, precise photos showing those people coming from the house will be your strongest argument. Also film and photo all the cars, bicycles, dumpsters and windows without proper coverings. Film anything else you think is important to document. Proper evidence to back up your argument will be your strongest ally in gaining credibility with the authorities.
Overcrowded housing is becoming a big problem in many communities. With it brings gang activity, increased crime and stresses the sewer and sanitation systems of our communities. It also leads to reduced property values. Homes were designed for one family to enjoy, not ten or twenty people. Garbage pickup was designed so a family can put out up to two or three pails at any one time. Some homes on my block put out four and five at a time already stressing the system. And these are homes that just house one family. Can you imagine the stress on the system where homes put out eight or more pails because twenty people are crammed into it? One final piece of advice is to ask firefighters about overcrowded homes. They often know the locations as these homes have illegal wiring that cause fires. Some will be reluctant to tell you but hopefully enough realize the problem and will supply you with addresses to collect evidence on.
One final note I have to say is please become involved in the fight. Too many Americans refuse to get involved because of a fear of retribution. All this can be done without naming yourself. Even the complaints you may have to sign to get the investigation going should be able to be done without public knowledge of who signed the complaint. Good luck and good hunting.
