The elderly residents of an Atlanta senior living facility are living in fear, plagued by squatters, filthy conditions, and rampant crime. Despite pleas for help, they feel abandoned and forgotten.
The elderly residents of Veranda at College Town, a senior living facility in Atlanta, have become prisoners in their own homes, living in constant fear of squatters, filthy conditions, and rampant crime. Their pleas for help have fallen on deaf ears, leaving them feeling abandoned and forgotten.
Atlanta police have confirmed calls for motor vehicle theft, vandalism, and burglary at the Veranda, a chilling testament to the rampant criminality that has become a daily reality for the elderly residents.
"We have a lot of criminal activity going on in that building that needs to be really investigated," said Renita Callier, the daughter of resident Charles Russell.
Callier's father, a leg amputee, lives on the top floor of the building in deplorable conditions, subject to the constant threat of violence and crime.
Resident Charlene Allen has witnessed gangs targeting the property, vandalizing cars and terrorizing the elderly residents.
"We have people living in our attic. We have vandalism of our cars. Today, I was told nine car windows were broken out," Allen pleaded at a Fulton County Commissioner's meeting.
Rick White, senior vice president of owning company Integral, acknowledged the criminal activity, admitting that "the issue of unauthorized occupants or squatters is a significant concern."
However, White's claims that they are addressing the issues ring hollow to the residents, who have witnessed little to no improvement. They feel abandoned and betrayed, trapped in a living nightmare with no one to turn to.
"When I've been there at night, I've noticed that people were kicking the door. They looked like gangbangers because they were certainly not other senior citizens," said Allen.
Diane Usher, another resident, echoed Allen's plea for help. "We are just begging for someone to please come and see what's going on with our building. The homeless keep tearing up the back door. They keep breaking into people's cars. We just don't know who to ask for help," she said.
The elderly residents of Veranda at College Town deserve to live in peace and dignity, free from the fear of crime and squalor. It is the responsibility of the authorities to take swift action to address this crisis, restore order, and give these vulnerable seniors the safe and clean living environment they deserve.
