(TruthAndLiberty.com) – Local officials in Jeannette, Pennsylvania are trying to demolish ten vacant houses which have been used by drug users and squatters. The houses in question were declared a town public nuisance last week.
One of the homes in question is located on Fifth Street. According to reports squatters had built an open fire and had started to heat up past from a can. The house was also being used as a drug den.
In an interview on “Trib Live” the Fire chief of the town, Bill Frye disclosed that the squatters were using a fire to cook in the building. He had added that the spot of the house made it a prime location for handling illegal activities.
Officials are now looking into options for using the American Rescue Plan funds to demolish the ten houses, while many other vacant and dilapidated houses are also being considered to determine whether or not they should be considered public nuisances and if they should be demolished.
Curtis Antoniak, the city’s mayor, argued that it would be a great pressure release if they were able to demolish the houses.
According to Fry a different house on Third Street was being used by other squatters who were leaving trash everywhere. Kids had also been spotted playing inside the house.
A report from Census Bureau has shown that there are around 16 million homes that are vacant in the U.S. right now. Many homeowners have reported squatters taking over homes that had been left unoccupied over prolonged periods of time.
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