She has seen it go from positive to negative and positive again as residents work with the Halifax County Sheriff's Office to clean up the subsidized housing project.

“When I first started living here there were a lot of older people,” she said following a Neighborhood Watch meeting this afternoon. “Now we have a lot of a younger people. We lost the bond of helping each other and were seeing more crimes committed.”

Now, with a list and mugshots posted on the office window of people the Roanoke-Chowan Regional Housing Authority has banned from the property, and the burgeoning Neighborhood Watch effort, she is already seeing a difference. “It seems better,” she said. “People are trying to get our community back. There are a lot of positive things.”

Photos from the banned list.

(The complete list of people banned from the premises is included as a Microsoft Excel sheet at the end of this story)

Tamara Jones, an occupancy specialist with the authority, was one of the people behind the Neighborhood Watch effort. “I wanted the tenants to have a better, closer relationship.”

The neighborhood, which is off Highway 301, has seen its share of problems, from shootings, break-ins and drug deals.

Today being the fourth meeting, people are already starting to take notice the residents are taking a stand.

There are 78 apartments in the complex, said Barbara Warmack, executive director of the authority. “It's a big complex and the biggest part are children. Part of the problem is people coming here to visit. A lot of the residents have stood up.”

Temple discusses the program.

Bruce Temple, chief deputy of the sheriff's office, said the organization of the program is to the point the complex and law enforcement want other parts of the area to know there is a program in place. “They're trying to get the message out the neighborhood is hot.”

Jones said even in the early stages, the program is working. “It's a lot quieter. People don't worry as much. We're seeing trash being picked up and we're seeing children playing.”

Said Warmack, “We're seeing people out and they should be out. If you don't see children out playing, something's wrong.”

As of last count, there are 95 children who live in the complex up to the age of 10, Jones said.

Hartman looks over an informational booklet with her niece.

One of the people who has designated himself a shepherd of those children is Donte Peebles, who has lived in the complex a year.

Peebles, a father who formerly wrestled with a path off the straight and narrow, is now devoted to keeping the neighborhood safe. “They (the children) go up and down and pick up trash for candy. We do little things like teaching them to jump rope. I do it for them.”

Doing these activities, Jones said, is important for them. “My focus is the kids, to see them come out without fear. My main focus with community watch is for them to develop in an environment without fear.”

Lisa Hartman, a five-year resident of the community, credits much of the improvements to Jones. “Since she came here the children come outside and play. It's been a big difference. Now it feels a little safer.”

During the meeting Temple told those assembled, “All it takes is a few to make a difference.”

Temple went over some simple crime prevention tips and also talked about the importance of using Crimestoppers, which allows people to report crime tips without giving their names. He also stressed that residents in the community get to know each other. “The more you get to know each other you will see there are positive influences in these buildings. I can be a resource, these two (Warmack and Jones) can be a resource, but you can also be a resource.”