The Huntsville Housing Authority is considering extending their curfew policy because it seems to be effective in helping combat crime.

A curfew has been in effect since June for those who live within the housing authority. This was done in response to deadly shootings across the city, including one that resulting in two people being killed at the LR Patton apartment complex.

Officials discussed the issue at their annual update meeting Monday.

“I think our residents feel a lot safer,” Executive Director Antonio McGinnis said. “They feel like their children can play outside. One resident said they feel like a ghost town when the curfew is implemented, and so we appreciate that because what we want is our residents to feel like they’re safe in their own backyard.”

The current curfew is from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekends.

“We are really trying to do all that we can to make sure that we have a zero tolerance for any kind of violence,” McGinnis added. “We want to encourage those who don’t live in the community to stay away… because our families deserve peaceful enjoyment of their neighborhood.”

Huntsville City Councilwoman Michelle Watkins also discussed the issue of crime at the meeting.

“What people don’t understand is nine times out of ten, it isn’t the residents that live there,” she said. “It’s outside people that come there, and if you are on the outside coming in to cause trouble, chaos and confusion, we don’t want you there.”

According to McGinnis, there are more than 1900 people with Section 8 housing vouchers, and nearly 1500 people in public housing, with more than 600 families on the waiting list.

“You still have some people who don’t appreciate it,” he said, “but for the majority of the residents, they appreciate the curfew and feel like it’s something that allows them to remain safe while they’re renting their unit.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee