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Some neighbors expressed outrage at Teen Challenge's choice of location, questioned its policies on medicating patients and complained that property values would plummet if the center opens inside the BCM International building at 309 Colonial Drive.
Others, affiliated with a church in the same building, came to express support for the organization.
The meeting, attended by several Teen Challenge officials and more than a dozen clients, was scheduled to address residents' concerns in advance of a zoning hearing in Ephrata Township later this month. The proposed site for the 24-bed center sits across the street from a townhome community and is near a park owned by Akron Borough.
"I believe everyone has a right to rehab," said Jay Johnson, who lives on Colonial Drive with his 8- and 12-year-old children. "But I also believe God challenges me to protect my children."
Like many, Johnson wanted to know what would happen when men quit the program or left the facility. The Rev. J. Jaime Santiago, director of Teen Challenge's Lancaster induction center in Rehrersberg, said the program escorts dropouts to a bus depot, sends them home with their families or, in the case of court-ordered attendees, back to prison with law enforcement.
"Our students are supervised 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Santiago said. "These men are not going to be walking around your neighborhood. We're kind of like the military. We hold them accountable."
Although Teen Challenge officials said they do not accept sexual predators, violent criminals or anyone requiring psychotropic medication, some attending the meeting seized on a daily schedule that includes time for "meds." Santiago said residents can take routine medications for their health but that his state license prohibits treating any mentally ill clients.
Others expressed concern that Teen Challenge would bring outsiders into their community, who would then stay even if they relapsed. Many worried that their presence would bring down property values. One neighbor who recently sold her house said the sale almost fell through when the buyers learned a rehab might be moving in.
Teen Challenge residents, who spoke and sang at the meeting, were from as far away as Baltimore and Delaware, but several were from Lancaster County. Among them was Sam Stolzfus, who said he grew up in an Amish family but turned to drugs and alcohol. Jerry Lamkin said he lived on the streets of Ephrata for two years while he was battling addiction.
"There was no one to turn to," he said. "If you'd opened your back door to me years ago, I would have been a better person then."
Two others spoke frankly of abusing or selling drugs in Akron and Ephrata.
"I would never have imagined that people would be selling heroin in Ephrata, but that's where we are today," said Santiago, who tried to convince his would-be neighbors that drug users in their community are more of a threat than those who are trying to break their addictions. "We can run from our problems or we can handle them face on."
An unidentified speaker said he'd heard similar arguments and fears regarding group homes but felt residents would be protected by Teen Challenge's national affiliation.
Alcoholics and drug users "might live next door to you right now," he said. "In this situation, there's an organization like Teen Challenge who is backing this and has to be responsible."
Santiago and Joe Batluck, executive director of the Rehrersburg center, said they would hold another more intimate meeting with those who still had concerns. They also welcomed neighbors to tour the Berks County facility.
Ephrata Township's zoning hearing board will hear Teen Challenge's request for a special exception on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in the township building, 265 Akron Road. The board generally issues decisions the month following a hearing.
Colonial Drive resident Ed Pohl has signed on as a party to the zoning request, giving him the right to challenge the township's decision. If that happens, the outcome could be undecided for six months or more.
If ultimately approved, Teen Challenge plans to spend $400,000 to $600,000 on interior renovations at BCM and house all of their clients on the first floor. Other businesses and church facilities would be allowed to remain on the second floor.
