Group homes inch closer to new locations in Anoka County

Anoka County covers some costs for Zumbro House, after protests met its plans to house eight teens with developmental disabilities in Centerville.

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: August 29, 2009 - 10:49 PM

Print this story

Follow local news on Twitter

More from North Metro

Eight teenage boys who weren't able to move into group homes in Centerville after neighbors protested should soon have a new place to stay in Anoka County.

County officials have offered to pay the owner of the group homes for his expenses and help arrange for a nonprofit to buy one of the homes. Chris Onken, president of Zumbro House, said he had to back off the idea of opening the homes in Centerville after neighbors expressed outrage earlier this month over the residents -- boys with developmental disabilities.

He said he will begin to look for two new houses, but he knows they won't be in Centerville.

"We'll be looking for a more rural location, understanding that the issue is perhaps still sensitive in Anoka County," Onken said.

The future of the group homes in Anoka County had been in limbo while Onken tried to figure out how he could afford to purchase two new sites. Now, the Anoka County Community Action Program (ACCAP), a nonprofit organization that is not part of county government, has agreed to buy the home at 6911 Dupre Road. Onken said he also plans to sell the property that sparked the controversy, a foreclosed house at 1689 Hunters Trail. This week, he said, he will submit an invoice to the county for the costs he incurred to get both houses ready for his clients. He estimates that amount will be more than $25,000.

Patrick McFarland, executive director of ACCAP, said his organization will renovate the home on Dupre Road and sell it to a first-time homebuyer. He said they will also assist Onken in finding new properties, if he wants.

"The county has asked us to step in because they feel some responsibility for what happened with the other properties," McFarland said.

Group homes were invited

A year ago, Anoka County had asked Zumbro House to establish two group homes in Centerville for boys whose families lived in the area. Zumbro House operates group homes for boys between the ages of 15 and 19.

Onken already had purchased the home on Hunters Trail when neighbors got wind of the plan and checked out Zumbro's website, where the clients were described as people who had committed sexual offenses and exhibited aggressive and impulsive behavior. Onken later changed the wording, which seemed to upset the neighbors even more.

The issue boiled over Aug. 13 at a neighborhood meeting where more than 100 people turned out to confront Onken. In the wake of the controversy, Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah, as well as other public officials, posted comments on a website thanking the neighbors for protesting the group home's opening. The website, www.nozumbrohouse.com, has since been made private. Some disability rights groups questioned whether public officials were violating federal and state fair-housing laws by making the comments.

Meanwhile, the families of the teenage boys tried to figure out their next step. One boy had been living in a group home in Mankato. His parents were only able to visit every other month and had been looking forward to him moving closer to home, Onken said.

"They were very, very sad that the Centerville thing wasn't going to go through," he said. "It's been a very trying experience, not only for our company, but more so for these clients. They know the community of Centerville has said they don't want them moving into their town, and that's very difficult."

Now that it appears the boys will be able to settle into new homes, Onken said the families are elated.

"They just want to move on at this point and look for a neighborhood that will be more welcoming to their sons," he said.

Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628

Recent North Metro stories

New Ramsey theatre takes an all-inclusive approach on, off the stage - August 29, 2009

New Ramsey theatre takes an all-inclusive approach on, off the stage - Community theater in Anoka is producing a contemporary version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" with newbies and veterans alike. More