Bethlehem Zoners Deny Group Home For Mentally Ill Near Moravian College

What a difference a month makes. On July 28, soft-spoken Jennifer Parry began to tremble when she learned that a group home for the mentally ill was planned right across the street from her home. She and her husband, Jonathan, decided to attend a Zoning Hearing Board meeting after receiving notice that Resources for Human Development (RHD) was seeking a variance from the off-street parking requirements at 943-945 Monocacy Street. Thinking this must have something to do with nearby Moravian College, they were shocked to learn that zoners were being asked to waive off-street parking requirements for a group home housing eight mentally ill people, along with another four day visitors.

Program Director Aaik Van Munster did a poor job reassuring her. In evasive testimony, he told Zoner Bill Fitzpatrick that someone convicted of child molestation "would not have a chance." But a half sentence later, he claimed it would be "extremely unlikely."

Parry, who has two toddlers and is pregnant, stated she was "very concerned for my children," but Van Munster insisted these "are free Americans."

Solicitor Mickey Thompson, telling Parry she had an obligation to inform herself, denied a request to continue the matter so other neighbors could come and be heard. That might "prejudice the Applicant," he ruled. But the matter was tabled so Thompson could research the Fair Housing Act.

Expecting the worst, the Parrys returned to the Zoning Hearing Board on August 25. When they left, they could breath a sigh of relief because zoners denied the application unanimously. Bill Fitzpatrick told RHD Attorney Keith Cacciatore that the ZHB decision was on the basis of a self-created hardship with the off-street parking requirements, as well as the use of the building as a lodge. He insisted their denial "was not on the basis of the group home."

The Monocacy Street site is located just one block south of Moravian College and one block west of William Penn Elementary School.

With Closure of ASH, Group Homes Need More Scrutiny

When Allentown State Hospital shuts its doors for the last time at the end of this year, it will be the third state mental health hospital to close since 2006. As developers pick away at its 217-acre carcass, the sickest patients will be transferred to Wernersville. The rest are coming back to the community. Lehigh and Northampton Counties are scrambling to find new homes for approximately eighty local residents. Group homes. But how can eighty people, who were institutionalized for their illness, suddenly be well enough to be re-introduced into the community?

Northampton County Mental Health Administrator Kathleen Kelly is already increasing the number of group homes housing the mentally ill, from from four to seven. (The County maintains another 39 group homes for people with different disabilities). Hanover Township Supervisors, told by their Solicitor that the Fair Housing Act gives them little choice, have already approved a home for six mentally ill residents along Airport Road. Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board is considering a similar proposal to house another eight people at 943 Monocacy Street, located just one block from Moravian College and William Penn Elementary School. That home will also include four "day visitors" who live in nearby apartments.

According to the state DPW, the mentally ill "are best served in community settings through an array of services and supports." Community home providers are quick to jump on that bandwagon. But so are mental health professionals. "[P]eople with even the most serious mental illnesses, including those with the least relief from their symptoms, can be served much more effectively in the community than within the walls of a state institution," says Sue Walther, Executive Director of Pennsylvania's Mental Health Association.

This "deinstitutionalization" movement - moving people from mental hospitals into neighborhoods - began back in the 1960s, a reaction to the horrific conditions prevalent in many state institutions, including nearby Chester County's Pennhurst State School and Hospital, where mentally and physically disabled children were routinely abused. Mental patient census has declined in Pennsylvania from 4,934 to 1,627 as of 6/30/09. But as state hospitals fade away, will the same abuses and neglect begin to appear in group homes for the mentally ill?

That's exactly what happened in New York, where state institutions began closing over twenty years ago. A 2002 New York Times report, the result of a year-long investigation, revealed that many community homes had themselves devolved into places of "misery and neglect," just like the psychiatric institutions they replaced. That should be so surprise. After all, who will believe the complaints of someone suffering from mental illness?

One thing is certain, "deinstitutionalization" has led to an explosion of group home providers like Bethlehem-based LifePath, Inc. and Resources for Human Development (RHD), which started in Philadelphia. On its web page, RHD claims to run more than 160 programs in 14 states. It outright owns seven properties in Northampton County, and rents others.

Although a nonprofit, RHD's Form 990 (for 2008) is proof that there's money - big money - in insanity, at least if you are an executive. RHD raked in $161 million in '08, and paid 256 managers over $50,000. Executive Director Robert Fishman's compensation package that year was $233,331. Chief Operating Officer Margaret Mowatt raked in just under $190,000. Five Directors, like Philadelphia dentist Frank Torrisi, and six associate directors, were paid over $100,000. Independent contractors like Bethlehem psychiatrists Neville Kotwal ($311,615) and Deborah Rodgers ($137,423) were also very well-compensated.

In addition to their high salaries, group home directors and associate directors often invest, as silent partners, in individual group homes, where the monthly rent is a sure thing.

But the high salaries end with managers. According to what a middle manager from that industry tells me, on condition of anonymity, the workers who actually staff these group homes could probably do better at Burger King. They are largely uneducated and untrained, although they do get certified in basic first aid, CPR, and to administer medications. Supervisors only make somewhere around $10 per hour.

Because of the high turnover at these group homes, employees are often forced to work double shifts while managers skirt wage and hour laws. Staffers fired from a facility for patient abuse can quickly find a job at another group home. Some workers will accept all kinds of hours, and dole them out to friends. In these 24-hour facilities, it is common to find the overnight staffer asleep, primarily because he is already working well in excess of a forty-hour week. As long ago as 1993, a largely ignored Congressional report warned about under-trained, poorly paid, and incompletely screened employees at group homes.

Many group home providers, well aware that they are controversial, will fly under the radar, trying to hide their true purpose. For example, vague names like "LifePath" and "Resources for Human Development" are actually misleading, especially on a zoning application. It certainly fooled Bethlehem residents at Monacacy and Fairview Streets, who had no idea that a group home for the mentally ill was being planned in their own neighborhood.

My anonymous middle manager claims that when a company uses misleading names and pressures low-paid staff to work long hours, it ultimately hurts the resident. "The level of care depends on how happy the workers are," he tells me. "The model is successful. Group homes generally are a good way to integrate people with disabilities, into the community. You won't even notice a good one." But he cautions, "Dissatisfaction trickles down, and it shows in the quality of care."

That apparently is what has happened at a Philly group home. Late last week, state officials revoked the license at a community home, following the death of an autistic client. He had been locked for five hours in a hot van and was dead by the time staffers realized he was missing. The supervisor has been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Don't get me wrong. I do support the concept of group homes. But I question whether group homes are up to a dramatic surge in mental health patients, who have suddenly been declared fit for the community. It's also hard to accept the notion that someone being paid $8 per hour has any special qualifications or training that sets him apart from a McDonald's employee.

Will Philly's tragedy be repeated here? Northampton County Director of Human Services Ross Marcus has promised to answer that and other questions in the next few days. I will try to bring you the perspective of both County officials and group home operators.

Hanover Township Approves New Group Home For Mentally Ill

When Allentown State Hospital closes its doors at year's end, about ten of forty-five Northampton County residents will be transferred to Wernersville's facility. The rest will go to group homes, including one proposed at 3925 Airport Road, in Hanover Township. But would Supervisors agree? This was the main event at Hanover Township Supervisors' meeting on July 27.

Group Homes Questioned at Township and County Levels
According to Mental Health Administrator Kathleen Kelly, Northampton County currently oversees thirty-nine group homes within the County for people suffering from some form of cognitive disability. There are only four group homes for the mentally ill. Plans are in the works to add another three, including the Airport Road home.

On June 22, Hanover Township Supervisors listened as resident after resident explained why a conditional use application should be denied. Stephanie Anthony, a mother of two who lives near the proposed group home, told supervisors that "we already have a group home behind us, and it gets awfully rowdy." She later said, "We see the cop lights behind our house almost every night."

None of this made any difference to Solicitor James Broughal, who told residents and supervisors alike that the Fair Housing Act requires that group homes be treated like any other residence. "You could have 100 group homes in your neighborhood and there's not a lot we could do," he warned.

After this Hanover Township meeting, the recent surge in group homes was discussed on a County level, too. The subject came up when Northampton County Exec John Stoffa proposed the appointment of Wendy Heatley as his group home czar.

Reviewing this appointment on July 14, Northampton County Council President Ron Angle was very dubious that thirty-five current Allentown State Hospital patients would suddenly be ready for life in the real world. "Eighty per cent [of the County's] patients are going back into the community with just one flick of the pen. ... I find that troublesome. And then you wonder why when you pick up a paper and read that somebody just blew three person's brains out."

Agreeing with Angle, Council member Ann McHale was skeptical, too. "People wander the streets, not knowing what they are doing," she complained.

Heatley, whose appointment was approved and is 100% state funded, was somehow able to impress and reassure both Angle and McHale, no easy feat. "I know every single one of those people personally," she stated. "I've known some of them for ten years. We are not bringing anyone out to the community that we do not feel we can safely serve."

Director of Human Services Ross Marcus added, "Sometimes, people have stayed in the hospital longer than they needed to stay."

Angle and McHale were willing to give Heatley a chance. Now, Hanover Township Supervisors are willing to give a green light to the proposed group home on Airport Road, which she will supervise. At their July 27 meeting, they unanimously approved the application. Bethlehem Attorney William Matz, representing owner Moravian Development Corporation, was on hand to defend the proposal, but no Hanover resident offered any new complaints.

Although the group home was approved, Supervisors did impose eight conditions: (1) No more than six residents; (2) Twenty-four hour on site supervision; (3) No medical or counseling services, except for the actual residents; (4) It must be a housing, and not treatment, program; (5) no criminally insane, violent, or drug or alcohol-addicted residents; (6) No resident may keep a car at the home; (7) Annual reports must be filed detailing the size, residents and supervising agency; and (8) The home's rules and regulations must be on file with Hanover Township.

Jake Brake Sting

With the main event out of the way, Township Manager John (Jay) Finnigan discussed the "Jake Brake Sting" recently run by two Hanover police officers along Route 512, between 4 and 6 AM. A Jake Brake is a compression braking mechanism on some diesel trucks. It slows a truck down, but sounds like a machine gun, and is prohibited in many municipalities. Officers counted 177 trucks. Three of them were illegally using jake brakes, and were cited. It's a $10 fine.

"That's less than the truckers spend at Turkey Hill," quipped Finnigan, so Supervisors have introduced an Ordinance increasing the fine to $100.

In other business, Supervisors tinkered with a "Solar Ordinance" proposed by the Planning Commission. They honored John Cody Broniec and Alexander Michael Joyce for becoming Eagle Scouts. And Finnigan hinted that "Trooper 1" might make a special appearance at Hanover Township's National Night Out on August 3.

"Trooper 1" is the Pennsylvania State Police Helicopter used to watch "packages" like VP Biden, when he recently visited the Lehigh Valley.