Residents fighting proposed government subsidized housing development

CYPRESS, TX (KTRK) -- A new government subsidized housing development is being proposed along Huffmeister road in Cypress.

Right now, the development is just a proposal. It still has to go through layers of approval, but some residents who live nearby are fighting it with an online petition which already has more than 1,400 signatures.

Haley Helmer is one of those residents protesting the proposed development.

"My first fear was how many times will the school be put on lock down," said Helmer.

She and other residents say their main concerns include safety, potential crime, crowded schools and their precious neighborhood.

"As a Realtor, I know what happens: property values go down. It's a domino effect," said Carol Humerickhouse.

"Surrounding neighborhoods are gonna suffer, always does," said David Sike.

Roshunda Lago sees the development differently. She lives across the street from the proposed site. Lago says her mother raised three kids on minimum wage, and her husband grew up in housing projects in New Orleans. She believes children in the housing development would reap the benefits of being in a good school district and nice area.

"I don't believe that just because doesn't have a lot of income that that would bring down the value of the community," said Demond Lago.

Helmer and her neighbors disagree.

"Having section 8 housing so near to this area of town is unnerving," said Helmer.

We don't want it," said Humerickhouse. "We are gonna do whatever we can so it doesn't happen."

Funding for the proposed development has not been approved.