Ohio Woman Discovers a Stranger Has Built a Makeshift Home on Her Property: ‘This Could Very Much Be a Set Up’
An Ohio mother has found herself in the middle of a heated debate after she discovered that a homeless woman named Amy has been trespassing on her property and has made a makeshift home. But it is the way she handled the situation that has many of her followers in an uproar.
TikTok creator @PinkBreeze shares that she recently stumbled across a very unsettling situation in the backyard of her Ohio home. She reveals that while outside in her backyard, she discovered that someone has been living behind the bushes just feet from her home.
Ohio Woman Under Fire For Forcing Homeless Woman Off Her Property
Among the numerous items she discovered was a notebook with a handwritten message that stated, “Hello, I’m Amy. I’m homeless. Please don’t throw away my home.” The Ohio mom reveals that at first she was shocked, but after a minute or so she became angry, wondering where this Amy person was.
So, she did what many people do these days. She turned to social media to share the upsetting circumstances and to rant. Before the TikTok creator’s comment section began to blow up, she posted a brief statement in the caption. “I have the biggest heart for homeless people! But this is where I cross the line! COME COLLECT AMY.” It didn’t take long before her followers started taking sides.
One follower warned, “As someone who worked with the homeless for years. DO NOT ALLOW THIS. It will escalate FAST.”
Others felt that the Ohio woman lacked compassion for the homeless woman, Amy’s situation. “For all we know, Amy could be learning everyone’s schedule. Amy could be planning a break-in. Amy gotta go,” another speculated.
“If she gets injured or hurt on your property, she can sue your homeowners. Remove her and her possessions immediately,” one more pointed out.
“She has to protect her home and her family. She has children, and who knows, this person could harm her family. This could very much be a setup.”
24-Hour Timeline And Update
Following the online drama, the Ohio woman says she gave Amy 24 hours to remove her things and vacate her property. According to the update, it appears as if Amy returned to the property, went through her things, and took what she wanted, leaving most behind.
Sadly, the property owner later discovered that Amy seemingly has children. Calling the situation very sad. However, she boxed up the homeless woman’s left behind possession and placed them on the curb for the next trash pickup.
“Girl, people are crazy, don’t let them make you feel guilty about not letting a stranger live in your backyard,” another adds.
Ohio Homeless Laws And How To Protect Yourself
In the state of Ohio, homelessness is not a crime. However, unpermitted camping or occupying private property is. According to JayPerezLaw.com, if you discover someone is taking up residence on your private property, they suggest handling the situation in the following ways.
The first thing you should do is immediately call the police. If the situation has escalated and the person is showing establishing residence-like behavior, you may have to take more formal and legal steps, such as issuing a 3-30 day notice to vacate the property.
If the intruder still refuses to vacate your property, inside or out, you will have to move further and file an eviction notice. Hopefully you will never have to endure this type of situation. However, there are ways you can prevent and protect yourself, per Daytonohlaw.com who suggests taking the following measures in advance.
Under the Ohio Revised Code Section 2911.21, place several No Trespassing signs around your property. Add plenty of outside lighting around the perimeter to deter trespassers. Use lockboxes on your outside water spigots and electrical outlets to avoid easy access. Lastly, add plenty of outside surveillance cameras to your property as well.
Homelessness In Ohio
The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that more than 12,000 people are experiencing homelessness across the state. 80% of these individuals are accommodated in temporary shelters. Leaving the remaining 20% unsheltered, living on the streets, or in cars.
The high numbers are a result of the state facing a severe shortage of affordable housing units. There are only 37 available and affordable rental units for every 100 extremely low-income households. The rising cost of living, including skyrocketing grocery prices, is taking a toll on everyone these days. Unfortunately, for most, the struggle continues to grow.
But for the Ohio mom who removed the alleged homeless woman from her yard, most commenters believe she did the right thing to ensure her family’s safety. As the United States continues to suffer during the downfall of our economy, it is becoming a dog-eat-dog world, and people are forced to keep trying to do the best that they can.
