SIMI HALFWAY HOUSE DRAWS NEIGHBOR'S COMPLAINT : CITY INVESTIGATING WHETHER MINISTRY VIOLATED USE PERMITS.Byline: Ann-Marie Sanchez Daily News Staff Writer Code enforcement Code Enforcement is the act of enforcing a set of s, principles, or laws (especially written ones) and insuring observance of a system of norms or customs. An authority usually enforces a civil code, a set of rules, or a body of laws and compel those subject to their authority to officials investigated complaints Tuesday about overcrowding overcrowding overcrowding of animal accommodation. Many countries now publish codes of practice which define what the appropriate volumetric allowances should be for each species of animal when they are housed indoors. Breaches of these codes is overcrowding. inside Victory Outreach Ministries, a Christian rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. home for men. City officials said they cannot release information about the complaints but that investigations are still under way. ``We have received complaints for that address and we're working with the complaining parties and property owners to resolve the issues,'' said Joe Hreha, deputy director of community services. The complaint was from next-door neighbor Karen Michaels who said she has had many problems with the facility since it opened in November. She said she has called the city numerous times citing round-the-clock visitors, intimidating in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. clients and operating without proper city permits. ``If this guy wants to run a halfway house halfway house /half·way house/ (haf´wa hous) a residence for patients (e.g., mental patients, drug addicts, alcoholics) who do not require hospitalization but who need an intermediate degree of care until they can return to the community. , don't do it in a residential neighborhood,'' said Michaels, standing outside her home on the 1400 block of Cochran Street. ``It's like living next door to a 24-hour party house.'' But the community care facility's operator, Pastor Robert Battle, believes Michael's complaints are based only on guesswork and not on what really goes on inside the three-bedroom home, where recovering drug addicts and former gang members receive spiritual counseling to turn around their lives. ``I must admit, the people who come here have problems,'' said Battle, whose worldwide ministry offers evangelical Christianity as an answer to modern problems. ``But they come here seeking spiritual guidance and a new life.'' Two code enforcement officers walked through the Victory Outreach home Tuesday morning inspecting the garage, where Michaels claims people were living. Inside they found Battle's car, some upright mattresses and other garage sale items Battle has stored. ``The most I've had here is seven people and then I just transfer people to our other homes in San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Oxnard, Rancho ran·cho n. pl. ran·chos Southwestern U.S. 1. A hut or group of huts for housing ranch workers. 2. A ranch. Santa Paula Santa Paula (săn`tə pôl`ə), city (1990 pop. 25,062), Ventura co., S Calif., on the Santa Clara River in a fertile valley that yields citrus fruits, avocados, vegetables, flowers, nursery products, and walnuts; laid out 1875, inc. , Lompoc and Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. ,'' Battle said. Battle said the city has contacted him twice for failing to obtain a special-use permit for religious services and conducting numerous garage sales at the home, where he and his wife also live. But Battle said that since being notified by the city he has complied with Municipal Code by relocating his prayer groups and Sunday service to an alternate site on Royal Avenue and Erringer Road. ``I don't want to close these doors,'' said Battle, whose organization operates on a shoestring budget from church donation and fund-raisers. ``We have always been nice to her, but she's been a thorn in our side since I've been here.'' Currently, three men, ranging in age from 20 to 30 years old, are staying inside the home, Battle said. Most of his clients stay only for a short time while they learn how to deal with their addictions through spiritual guidance, he said. Many of the people he works with are escaping gangs - stopping in only long enough to find a placement in another home and get out of the area, Battle said. Robert Nigrete, 20, of Wilmington said he came to the shelter seven months ago after his mom heard about it through a friend. ``It was the right time in my life when I was so involved in drugs and gang violence,'' said Nigrete, dressed in baggy bag·gy adj. bag·gi·er, bag·gi·est Bulging or hanging loosely: baggy trousers. bag pants and sporting a crew cut. ``Now my family has seen a change in me.'' Michaels, however, said the only change she wants to see is a new address for the ministry - a move she believes would be better for the neighborhood. ``I give him all the credit in the world for doing this, but I don't want it next door,'' she said. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Color only in Simi edition) Pastor Robert Bat tle shows his garage Tuesday to Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. inspectors who were checking out charges that people were living there. (2--Color only in Simi edition) Judy Battle and Robert Orosco look on as Pastor Robert Battle reads letters of appreciation for the Victory Outreach Ministries. Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News |
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