Tension in Memphis neighborhood raises safety concerns

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A local couple is at their wit’s end, dealing with vandalism and harassment from a group home in Northeast Memphis.

David Lewis says his neighborhood along Macon Road in Northeast Memphis is not peaceful.

One of the many Capital City residential homes is across the street. It’s meant for people with behavior challenges.

Lewis says residents at the home have caused many problems.

“I was just getting out of the shower when my wife started screaming,” said Lewis. “She thought someone was breaking in the house which I guess they were if they broke the window out.”

He says his flower pots and garbage cans are flipped over daily.

Neighbors next door say they have had many terrible encounters with residents at this home for years. One particular incident stands out.

“Probably the incident with my grandchildren. We just got out of our car, and he came screaming across our yard accusing my grandson of calling him a word but he never spoke to the fella,” said Lewis. “It just feels like we aren’t comfortable in our own home.”

Landlord Earle Schwartz, who is also the Executive Director of the Housing Foundation of West Tennessee, says he rents homes to organizations like Capital City Residential Health to empower citizens with disabilities to live independently.

“All types of folks with intellectual disabilities. Some of our houses meet the needs of people in wheelchairs others are not, but all of our houses meet the needs of the people living there,” said Schwartz. “We provide the house somebody else provides the staff.”

Neighbors like Lewis are worried vulnerable residents and neighbors are at risk.

“This is a community with older people living in it. If they are going to keep them here, there needs to be some that they can control that don’t cause trouble and are not destructive,” said Lewis.

WREG reached out to Capital City Residential Health Care but has not heard back from them.

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