DAYTON, Ohio -- Residents living in Dayton’s Grafton Hill neighborhood went before the City Commission again Thursday to oppose the use of a nearby apartment building to house the homeless.

Residents first took their concerns to commissioners last month. Now, they said the crime in the area is getting worse.

The apartment building is located at 604 Grand Avenue. Some local organizations are using the building to house the homeless.

George Gale said, “I come before you today to make you aware of an increasing dangerous situation unfolding at 604 Grand Avenue.”

Residents said the apartment building has turned into more of a group home for crime.

“Approximately four months ago, I began to notice a significant number of individuals hanging out in the neighborhood drinking, urinating, arguing and panhandling neighbors,” Gale said.

Gale told city leaders that the problem has gotten so bad that he and his family are leaving Grafton Hill.

He said, “It is too dangerous for our family. It is forcing us to sell our property and move out of the city of Dayton.”

Residents said they want to aggressively work with the city and the homeless organizations before someone gets hurt.

Dayton City Manager Timothy Reardon said, “It’s a difficult problem and a difficult issue for neighbors and for the individuals involved, so we are working to try and come up with a resolution.”

Reardon said he wants to put more of the group homes for the struggling outside of the city of Dayton. At this time, it is about 50 percent in the city and about 50% out of the city.