Unsanitary neighbor: options through the city?

Submitted by AdamWhitmanDraper t3_xwaxx7 in baltimore

BGE is replacing my and my neighbors gas lines (row homes). My neighbor has always kept a pretty messy property but I've never been inside.

One of the gas employees pulled me aside today and warned me that my neighbor's house was in very bad shape inside and I should consider having a pest company come out and spray the shared side of our houses.

She is very elderly (80+?). Who can I call in Baltimore City for either elderly welfare (like a Child Protective Services for the elderly) or for nuisance properties?

I want to respect my neighbor, but I've had a large amount of critters over the past year and I don't think she can resolve this on her own.

Difficult situation - thanks in advance for your advice.

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AttisofAssyria t1_ir69lxp wrote

Whoever you call, do it now and you can pretend it was the BGE people that did it. And that way maintain neighborly peace.

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YogurtHeals t1_ir7wtmx wrote

This is 100% the best response, but you should know the city does aggressively fine rat infestation on poorly maintained properties.

Tbh if she’s old and lacks the means, it’s worth offering to assist. You’re proactively saving your house by having the property treated.

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troublewthetrolleyeh t1_ir7eymo wrote

Call APS please: https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-adult-services/adult-protective-services/ This sounds like a case of elderly self-neglect and APS will help this person. Give them all the info you know and a DSS worker will visit the property to determine things for themselves.

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AdamWhitmanDraper OP t1_ir7pvk9 wrote

Thank you!

I called APS and the receptionist...did not instill confidence. I did leave as much info as I could. Do you know how responsive they are?

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troublewthetrolleyeh t1_ir7sh8d wrote

Can you explain by what you mean re: the receptionist? The people who take reports are trained to ask their questions and respond to everyone with businesslike affects. If they sounded very frank to you, it’s just part of the job. Regarding response, that depends on a few factors including whether the report meets criteria according to DHS operations. Pretty sure your neighbor will because I guarantee there are many more issues in the home than just a couple of stray roaches. I can’t remember the time limit they have to respond but from experience with DHS in the past, I’ve met with workers a day or two after reporting.

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Kellkers t1_ir897lk wrote

Adult Protective Services . . . it's actually a thing.

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MercuryMadHatter t1_ir9w26a wrote

“My elderly neighbor needs assistance but I don’t want to be the one to help her. Who do I call?”

Idk man… if it were me, I’d pay for service to be done of both houses. Even if she wasn’t elderly, I’d just want the pests gone. On top of that tho, so many elderly are just forgotten about. Call APS if you think the situation is that bad, but just off of a pest problem, I don’t think that’s enough to warrant the call. I have a cousin who works for them, you’d literally just be wasting their time and resources. Now, if finances are the issue here, I get it. Reach out to anyone and everyone to help her. Just remember you also have a set of hands.

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eyesabovewater t1_ir7ad8y wrote

You can call the health dept. It is very hard on your health to have a heavy infestation of anything. You can also try to coordinate pest control, and include her. That would be benefical to everyone, because her little buddies will run! But doing it that way, it would probably be the least disruptive to her life.

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RedditSlylock t1_irbxnqv wrote

Talk to your neighbor and help her with it as it benefits both of you. We need to start being more compassionate and neighborly rather than just calling the government or cops on one another.

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boobiesiheart t1_it9nlx5 wrote

MaryAnne.Brennan@baltimorecity.gov

She's the (was in 2019) Ombudsman Program Manager.

She helped me with elderly neighbor.

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Smileshuey t1_ir98sqm wrote

The real answer is dept of housing. They can inspect inside

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engin__r t1_ir5oo88 wrote

Have you talked to your neighbor about it?

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AdamWhitmanDraper OP t1_ir5owiw wrote

I have, loosely. But I don't think she has the resources or the physical capability to resolve this on her own. The situation is one that, even for me, would probably require professional intervention.

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bobcat7781 t1_ir6dq20 wrote

Does she have adult children - or nieces/nephews - who could help?

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boobiesiheart t1_it9ns3g wrote

Careful with that.

I deal with estranged family issues at office sometimes. Might be a reason she's alone.

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Anne314 t1_ir88279 wrote

It's called Adult Protective Services. Just google it.

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