Why some kids can't trick-or-treat in their own neighborhood

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- For many families, going trick-or-treating is a tradition; for others, providing a fun Halloween experience for children can be a struggle.

Lisa Jones lives in the Sunnyside neighborhood, where crime is high. She said it is not safe for children to be outside at night.

"There's drug issues," Jones said. "There's cars that race through the neighborhood."

Her elderly neighbor Caroline said most children in the neighborhood stay inside at home on Halloween.

"We have people peddling and selling drugs 24 hours a day here," Caroline said, "I'm a senior that lives alone and I don't feel safe."

Jones decided to create a fun Halloween festival for her son and other neighborhood kids during the daylight hours. The children helped decorate her yard.

"They were really excited about that, and we do a lot of cheap shopping," Jones said, "so it let me see how much they enjoyed it."

Jones will be going to a safer neighborhood to trick-or-treat this Halloween, a move she wishes she didn't have to make.

"I have heard, "Oh, I'm not buying kids candy that don't belong, and you can see who belongs and don't belong," Jones said.

She said she want's people to have a more accepting attitude.

"I think any time you can make a kid happy, that's what you need to do because you're making an impression on them that can last for a lifetime," Jones said.

She and Caroline are involved in neighborhood meetings and in touch with police to help make the Sunnyside area safer.

"Isn't it sad that we have to leave our own area?"

Until safety improves where she lives, she said she is doing everything she can to make sure her son and other neighbors' children enjoy Halloween.