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FOX25 Investigates: Rooming house with 7 sex offenders in Dorchester is illegal

BOSTON — Residents of a Dorchester neighborhood tell FOX25 they are outraged they were not given notice about a home where seven Level 3 sex offenders live.

It's a story FOX25 broke last week and has been following closely, even uncovering other similar addresses in different parts of the state.

One resident of the Dorchester home spoke with FOX25 and said he understands why neighbors are upset, but he and other veterans who live there were placed there by a program.

The address is an illegal boarding house, and the program that placed them there describes itself as working to end homelessness.

"I think putting seven Level 3 sex offenders in a neighborhood like this is off the wall," Bill, a resident of the home, said. "I'm a Level 2 sex offender. I've been out for 15 years."

Bill said there is at least one other Level 2 sex offender that lives in the home, in addition to the Level 3 offenders.

That has neighbors scared and angry.

"I'm outraged they're not thinking about the community about the young children running around here," Dawn Barret said.

Barret lives in the neighborhood with her two sons. She told FOX25 she learned about the illegal rooming house from the head of Boston's Inspectional Services Department.

"Commissioner William Buddy Christopher informed us last night," she said. "He said it is confirmed that it is an illegal rooming house."

FOX25 has also learned that it's unclear of Homestart, the nonprofit that placed many of the veterans at the home, knew about the men's sex offender status.

Bill told FOX25 some of the people who live at the home also want to find new places to live.

"The people who live in the house don't want to be there. No one wants to be there right now," he said.

FOX25 has reached out to the executive director of Homestart but we have not heard back.

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