Reader Survey: What Can Be Done About the Rising Number of Trespassers in Abandoned Schuylkill County Buildings?

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
• A misdemeanor
• A citation and removal from the property, no criminal charge
• No charge at all
• Not sure

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
• There's one on my block or in my neighborhood
• There are some in my town, but not near me
• Not an issue where I live

You find out squatters are inside an abandoned building in your neighborhood. What do you do?

• Call the police
• Call the borough or township code office
• Try to reach the property owner
• Mention it to neighbors, but not report it
• Nothing, as long as they're not bothering anyone
• Check on them or try to get them help

Who bears the most responsibility for people ending up inside condemned buildings here?

• The property owners
• Borough and township code enforcement
• The county and state, for lack of housing and treatment options
• The people going inside
• Everybody listed here shares it

What would help

• Tear the buildings down faster
• Force owners to secure or repair them, or take the properties
• More shelter beds, treatment and housing help
• Tougher penalties for going inside
• More police patrols of vacant properties