Thread: Aliens, others cram Fairfax homes

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20051207 ... -3655r.htm

Aliens, others cram Fairfax homes
By Keyonna Summers
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published December 8, 2005

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A Fairfax County official said yesterday that illegal aliens, college students and others cramming into single-family homes is a dangerous problem and that landlords who allow such overcrowding must be held responsible.

"There are some neighborhoods that have experienced large numbers of people, presumably unrelated, who are dwelling in housing units far beyond what the ordinance allows," said Gerald E. Connolly, chairman of the county's Board of Supervisors. "We're asking for a new tool from the General Assembly ... to allow us to bring criminal charges against a landlord who knowingly allows overcrowding."

Mr. Connolly made his comments at the board's annual legislative breakfast.

A week earlier, a garage fire killed a Falls Church man and severely injured two others. Neighbors said the two-story garage was crowded with day laborers.

Mr. Connolly and the other board members are asking for legislation that would impose a $2,500 fine and a one-year jail sentence on landlords found in violation.

The county code permits no more than four unrelated persons or more than one family in a dwelling. The civil penalties now are a $100 fine for the first violation and $250 for each subsequent violation up to $5,000, and up to $2,500 for a criminal offense.

Delegate Thomas Davis Rust, Herndon Republican, called for tougher penalties.

"The penalties have not been sufficient, [so] people have been willing to take the risks and they're charging a lot of money," he said.

Mr. Connolly, a Democrat, cited cases in which as many as 20 persons were living in one home and said escalating housing costs likely have added to the problem.

He said the price of a single-family home has doubled in the past five years, from $250,000 to more than $500,000.

Delegate David B. Albo, Springfield Republican, said overcrowding is a "huge problem" in older neighborhoods, especially those without homeowners associations that limit the number of unrelated persons living together.

"It's not fair for the neighbors who pay a ton of money for their house to have a boardinghouse across the street from them," he said.

Mr. Rust said Herndon's problem during the day of illegal aliens and other day labors loitering outside a 7-Eleven are followed by the overcrowding problems at night.

He said the problem includes concerns about safety, policing and deteriorating home values and that he plans to submit legislation to crack down on overcrowding throughout Virginia.

Mr. Rust said the "immigrant population" appears to be causing most of the problems but that college students and others also are living in overcrowded homes.

Delegate Kristen J. Amundson, Mount Vernon Democrat, said overcrowding in her district is inevitable because the least expensive homes cost about $200,000.

She said she would support such a crackdown.

"If you're here working a minimum-wage job ... you cannot afford to purchase a home, but increasingly you can't afford to rent even a small apartment," Miss Admundson said. "That's true if you're here legally or not."

Well, if we got rid of all of the ILLEGALS, it would ease up the housing situation. Charging them only $100 or $250 is ridiculously low. They need to make it PAINFUL for them to cram that many people into single family homes. I can only IMAGINE how it's making the neighbors feel to see THEIR neighborhoods overtaken and THEIR property values driven down. Who would want to BUY a house in a neighborhood where they were stacking them in 20 to a house???