Abandoned Homes Raise Public Safety & Health Risks

An East Valley Tribune (Phoenix, Arizona) article appearing on MSNBC reports:

• "Cash-strapped homeowners facing foreclosure are abandoning their homes in higher numbers and leaving behind potential public safety and health risks. City code enforcers and county health officials are saying many of the vacated houses are showing up in newer high-end subdivisions historically immune to such trends. [...] Once homeowners pack up and leave, the vacated houses create problems that include the overall appearance of the neighborhood and more serious health hazards. Green stagnant pools can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that can carry West Nile virus. Empty homes can become flop houses for squatters and vandals. Unkempt yards are eyesores for neighbors that can also bring property values down. [... One] Mesa police officer ... said he has seen abandoned homes used for parties by teenagers and for criminal activity such as drug dealing."

For more, see Abandoned homes let health risks move in.