ARLINGTON, Va (DC News Now) -- The Arlington County Board approved zoning changes to expand the number of people permitted to live in a group home, and some Arlingtonians are concerned about the change's impacts on their neighborhoods. Group homes are residences for individuals with substance abuse or developmental disabilities that are owned and operated privately. Prior to the Oct. 19 4-1 board vote, Arlington permitted just four unrelated individuals to cohabitate within a unit. Nonprofit Oxford House, Inc. operates six such homes in Arlington. According to its website, Oxford House residences provide “alcohol-free and illicit-drug-free housing to individuals with substance abuse disorders and individuals with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders that does not include clinical treatment services.” In one Arlington neighborhood, two such homes are located next to one another.  Terry Armao said fellow community members are fed up, pointing to two homes on Stuart Street.  “They were parking on private property, which had to be across the street in the townhouse parking lot. They were harassing girls as they were sitting on the porch. The men were sitting on the porch and harassing schoolgirls as they walked by, and they carried a dead body out, which I only presume was from some kind of overdose,” Armao told DC News Now.  She said the problem hinges on the county’s inability to address issues as they arise. “Everybody does want to help people who are in recovery. I mean, they're in the fight of their lives, and you want to help. And so we all agreed, basically, that you should definitely be allowed and then above four should be with the special use permit,” she said. Fairfax County families get a shot at rent assistance as waitlist opens up Between August 2022 and August 2024, 26 calls for service were made to those homes, 10 police reports were filed and two arrests were made, according to Arlington County. County officials said that to provide a sufficient support group within a household, Oxford House, Inc. doesn’t charter houses for fewer than six people. Natalie Roy said she’s opposed to the measure because of its impacts on the neighborhoods. She said the county didn’t do due diligence before approving the amendment. “Are these homes in the best interests of the folks, the residents who are living there, who are there for, you know, either alcoholism, for addiction issues?” Roy said. “Is this in the best interests of the folks living there, is this in the best interests of the neighborhoods?” Substance use persists in the community; however, overdose statistics appear to be trending downward, according to statistics from Arlington County. In 2021, there were 92 overdoses reported in the county, dropping to 88 the next year and 73 in 2023. The county reported 31 overdoses so far in 2024.