We recently reported on five people being arrested and jailed after they were found living in an abandoned former school building in Minersville. It was just one of many instances of people getting arrested after police found them inside abandoned properties all over Schuylkill County.
Every time we report on these cases – and the number definitely seems to be growing – readers tend to have an opinion. Our social media page is flooded with comments. But not everyone comments for a variety of reasons. So, we want to know how our readers actually feel about this trend in Schuylkill County.
Below are 5 survey questions. Take a minute or two to answer the questions and we’ll report on the results:
Reader Poll
Voting closed
Five people were recently found living inside a condemned building in Schuylkill County. Police charged them with felony trespass. What do you think the charge should have been?
- Felony trespass, as charged 48%
- A misdemeanor 13%
- A citation and removal from the property, no criminal charge 23%
- No charge at all 13%
- Not sure 3%
Reader Poll
Voting closed
How close is the issue of abandoned buildings, in general, to you?
- There's a condemned or long-vacant building next door or across the street 18%
- There's one on my block or in my neighborhood 25%
- There are some in my town, but not near me 38%
- Not an issue where I live 19%
Reader Poll
Voting closed
You find out squatters are inside an abandoned building in your neighborhood. What do you do?
- Call the police 48%
- Call the borough or township code office 17%
- Try to reach the property owner 4%
- Mention it to neighbors, but not report it 2%
- Nothing, as long as they're not bothering anyone 20%
- Check on them or try to get them help 9%
Reader Poll
Voting closed
Who bears the most responsibility for people ending up inside condemned buildings here?
- The property owners 23%
- Borough and township code enforcement 6%
- The county and state, for lack of housing and treatment options 13%
- The people going inside 32%
- Everybody listed here shares it 26%
Reader Poll
Voting closed
What would help
- Tear the buildings down faster 14%
- Force owners to secure or repair them, or take the properties 43%
- More shelter beds, treatment and housing help 31%
- Tougher penalties for going inside 10%
- More police patrols of vacant properties 2%
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Anonymous
September 21, 2026 at 12:19 am
I blamed the owners of the properties for not keeping up with them and than the owners move away and stop paying taxes than the city should take the property and either tear it down or sell it someone who will matain it give them so many years to do so or lose it and for the people going in to these places what would you do if you where in there shoes you probably do the same to to survive I dont know why housing dont help for all these properties that housing Owns they caint donate a place for people to get help what all them properties that housing bought from the hospital over on mauch chuck st they where probably being fixed for free by illegals and getting away with it i still see no one living in them places yet its all corrupt politics.you wash my back i will wash you back they should try to find more half way houses to help people get on there feet
Mike Dwyer
September 21, 2026 at 11:11 am
Squatters are a danger, as they start fires to cook and/or stay warm, and there is usually substance abuse connected with them!