How to get a junkie to move out?

March 16, 2007 12:40 AM

How can I "persuade" a junkie (who's big on harrassment and intimidation) to move out of a flat/apartment?

I have a disabled friend who lives in a small flat (apartment) above a junkie. Not sure whethere the junkie is male or female. The junkie has a habit of cornering residents of the apartment block (10 units on the first level, 10 units on the ground level) and "asking" for money and/or cigarettes in an intimidating and/or threatening manner.

The junkie has verbally abused and intimidated several residents of the apartment block, and has had several violent arguments with his/her visitors.

The apartment is provided (I believe) by the local government authority. Approaches to this authority and to the police have proved fruitless.

How could I get the junkie to move out? And yes, legally. And yes, there are moral issues to doing this, but they are on my head.

posted by flutable to human relations (20 comments total)

A short, stiff punch to the solar plexus (if you know how to do it), and a reasoned, brief argument addressing his/her future welfare while the junkie is no position to argue, has worked for me, in a similar situation, when sweet reason alone has failed to cut through a junkie's haze. You can't reason with a junkie, until you have their attention. I'm not advocating pre-meditated assault, mind you, but effective self-defense in a confrontational situation can be directed in the service of larger aims.
posted by paulsc at 1:36 AM on March 16, 2007

Thanks paulsc, I wouldn't *mind* doing that... though I was thinking along the lines of low-level harrassment/making the environment less and less comfortable for the junkie and his/her associates to hang around.

Very interesting link though :) Ta!
posted by flutable at 1:42 AM on March 16, 2007

The more complaints you file with the police, the more they'll show up. If you call to complain every day eventually the police will take you seriously (if not just to get you to shut up).
posted by comiddle at 2:13 AM on March 16, 2007

Keep complaining, and get the other neighbours to complain.

In a situation I'm loathe to think about now, it took 20+ complaints to the 'local gov't authority,' but the junkie did eventually get evicted. I think the police showing up regularly was part of that, too, so they'll also want to call their local constabulary at the slightest provocation.

Actually, interesting the cops in that particular junkie -- or making him enough of a problem to frustrate them into doing something -- might be just the thing. As per comiddle above. Neighbours who always call the cops will at least keep him/her a solitary junkie.
posted by kmennie at 2:25 AM on March 16, 2007

Getting the junkie evicted only puts the problem on someone else's plate, not to mention probably creating another homeless person. What about contacting a local treatment program or homeless-type shelter to see if they can talk the person into their hands?
posted by DU at 4:32 AM on March 16, 2007

If you want to seriously piss off an actively using junkie I would recommend printing a bunch of literature from Narcotics Anonymous and slipping it under/tacking it to his door every single day.
posted by The Straightener at 4:51 AM on March 16, 2007

DU, I hear you. While I have no desire simply to transfer anti-social behaviour to somewhere, there are at least 20 other residents to think of as well.

But I shall see if there are any treatment programs about, in the local area. Thanks for the suggestion!
posted by flutable at 5:14 AM on March 16, 2007

Re: treatment programs, please watch out for Narcotics Anonymous as suggested above; they are a front organization for Scientology.

I second the advice to call the cops when further altercations occur.
posted by reptile at 7:11 AM on March 16, 2007

Re: treatment programs, please watch out for Narcotics Anonymous as suggested above; they are a front organization for Scientology.

That is wrong. Narconon is the Scientology organization.
posted by electroboy at 7:40 AM on March 16, 2007

Doh, ignore me. Not enough coffee yet.
posted by reptile at 7:47 AM on March 16, 2007

There's a lot of frontin' going on in your average NA meeting, but not for Scientology.
posted by The Straightener at 8:19 AM on March 16, 2007

Call the cops every time he steps out of line, every time. Get a restraining order if necessary. He violates that, it's off to jail.
posted by caddis at 8:33 AM on March 16, 2007

it's kind of like a fire where the best thing to do is just to let it blow itself out - the best move is just to suffer it really - theyll piss people off outside who know where they live etc etc and theyll have to move because theyll end up owing someone drugs or money - keep out of it - phone the police if it gets too much - dont let the junkies know youre opposing them in any way.
If you find they come up to you , subtly mention youre visiting a friend who had a drug problem but who is now in na and getting better, you'll find that they quit coming up to you - dont let them make you crazy - its very infectious.
posted by sgt.serenity at 9:16 AM on March 16, 2007

Everyone's mentioned the reasonable and realistic stuff, so how about an impractical and technological approach? Buy an "Annoy-a-tron" and plant it in his apartment.
posted by chairface at 9:48 AM on March 16, 2007

As long as the junkie is successful at shaking up people for money, cigarettes, etc., it will continue. Team up to protect each other. Swap cell & land phone numbers and call each other for support, or security, if needed.

Get copies of the rules governing the building. There will be rules about maintaining a safe environment and rules about how a dangerous tenant must be disciplined. Get your city councilor, state rep, Congressperson to help you make the Housing Authority and police responsive.

Your community will have some sort of advocacy group for old people. Get them to help you apply pressure to keep the building, and any elderly residents, safe.
posted by theora55 at 10:41 AM on March 16, 2007

The rehab idea could be worth a shot... But while it sounds good, would be great if it worked, and might work (depending on the temperment of the junkie), I stongly doubt it would get the person into rehab. Interventions are hard enough when it's done by people close to addict, but these are pretty much strangers. Strangers the junkie considers walking ATMs / cigarette machines, if his/her behaviour is any indication. They don't hold the same emotional sway as family members or close friends.

Everyone in the building who's getting hit up for cash or intimidated should join in on filing complaints. Each time it happens. If the housing authority and local cops (precinct or what have you) don't respond, take it to their bosses, or the bosses' bosses. It may be welfare / assisted housing, but that doesn't mean the residents should be allowed to be intimidated and harassed in their own homes.

If bringing the noise to the higher-ups still doesn't cause any action, mentionning the possibility of bringing their inaction to the attention of the local media may spur them to action. Hopefully it won't have to get to that level.
posted by CKmtl at 11:11 AM on March 16, 2007

you might let some other junkies know that he has a lot of dope stashed away in his bedroom. you know, talking loudly on a cell phone as you walk by them usually works.
posted by krautland at 12:10 PM on March 16, 2007

Go to the public agencies section of the white pages and start writing. Anything that might be fire hazard? Fire inspector. Think his car isn't up to code? Smog check. Didn't feed his dog this week? Animal control. Think he's a danger to children in the neighborhood? Local parents groups and the PTA.

Make complaints in LETTER form so officials are obligated to respond to them.

I did this once to an AIG insurance guy who wouldn't settle a claim with me. I blockaded his office with paperwork for a solid six months. He settled. Handsomely.

Don't file FALSE claims obviously, but there are a lot of things wrong with this guy and a lot to legally and justifiably complain about. After three months of official visits from everyone and their manager, he'll either wise up and leave, or he'll do something crazy that REALLY justifies him being kicked out of the building.

Though, you should try not to be there for that part...if you can arrange it.
posted by rileyray3000 at 12:47 PM on March 16, 2007

When I wanted to drive an unpleasant housemate away, I scattered some black salt from the local botanica in front of their door and concentrated on him leaving. About ten days later, he announced that he would be moving on. (Two years later, a crazy person moved into his room and drove me off within a month, so this can backfire.)

Contrarywise, when my pal Cathy wanted to drive an unpleasant housemate away, she made a sign that said "DIE" in runny blood-red letters and taped it up directly opposite his bedroom door. He slunk away in a similar time frame.

Weird and confusing signs and symbols are distressing for anyone, straight or high. Freak 'em out and watch 'em scatter.
posted by Scram at 5:49 PM on March 16, 2007

Driving someone out of their domicile, especially when it's likely their last resort domicile such as a government housing project, is ethically wrong.

Since you've decided to cross that line, and since you know this person understands harassment and intimidation, why not hire 2 or 3 big thugs to beat him brutally? After the first beating, have them tell the guy to move out. For every week that he doesn't move out, rinse and repeat.

He'll get the message and skip town right quick, and nobody will care, because no one loves a junkie.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:52 PM on March 17, 2007