A transitional home for sex offenders was proposed in a Huntingdon County community, which led to dozens of residents showing up to a special meeting about it Monday night.
At the meeting, several Jackson Township residents shared their concerns about potential transitional housing in the community. However, township and nonprofit leaders reassured the public that this will not be happening.
“Right now there’s no licensing and no restrictions in place that would put any kind of rules that [transitional housing] would have to follow,” shared resident Emily Frankhouser.
“In a rural community like this, it’s rather shocking because the nearest police would be 40 minutes until they got here we don’t have that protection and policing advantage,” added Jackson Township Supervisors Chairwoman Barbara Hawbaker.
Many residents were extremely outspoken against the idea, circulating petitions online and in person to urge township supervisors to create an ordinance that would impose strict requirements on transitional residential facilities.
Resident Kristen Croyle, who created the petitions, explained that…
I am so tired of hearing these stories. Why can’t these people realize that there are other [people] who are more likely to be a threat to them? What is the obsession with PFRs? They are like parrots, repeating everything they hear without even thinking logically anymore. When will this obsession with PFRs ever end? They can’t possibly continue this indefinitely. It’s bordering on ridiculous and embarrassing.