Detroit women grateful abandoned home has been boarded up - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG

By Alexis Wiley
Fox 2 News

DETROIT (WJBK) -- In Detroit, an abandoned house was causing concern in one neighborhood for the elderly women living next door, so family called the Fox 2 Problem Solver for help.  The house is now boarded up and the women are thankful.

Virginia Finch and Willa Rankin have lived on their block for 40 years.  They've once looked out their windows watching out for their children, but now they're watching out for each other.

"I dearly love her.  She's my neighbor and she's my friend," said Finch.

"We try to help each other," Rankin said.

But living on an empty block with an open, abandoned house between their homes has been more than they can bear.

"I'm just afraid to go out my door most of the time because of that house," Finch explained.

"People going in and staying and you get the (prostitutes) going in there," said Rankin.

"I don't know what's out there.  I don't what's going to jump out," Finch added.

Family members contacted Fox 2's Ronnie Dahl for help and she knew exactly who to call.

"I've been into Detroit for 20 years plus doing this kind of stuff and renovations, and I think it's just about time that people step up and get these houses cleaned up and boarded up," said Ray Safadi.

That's exactly what P.C. Contracting did. A crew boarded up every door and window using screws and washers that won't be easy to remove.  Now that this house is finally closed, these women won't have to worry about what's going in or coming out.

"I am just so happy and I just thank Jehovah so much for sending you people around," said Rankin.

"If one house gets boarded up on one block a day, it makes a big difference throughout the year," Safadi said.

"I feel (safer) and I just want to thank you all for coming and doing this for us," said Finch.