After a brutal sexual assault in the Winter Hill area, residents said they were not overly concerned about safety.

After a brutal sexual assault in the Winter Hill area, residents said they were not overly concerned about safety.

Allen Harmon, 35, was charged with assault to rape and assault to murder, among other charges, after he reportedly attacked a woman in the B'nai Brith parking lot Wednesday evening. Harmon is a resident of the group home at 155 Central Street operated by health care provider Vinfen.

Emily Miller who lives at 108 Central St. said she is a mental health advocate at a nearby school and is having mixed feelings about the attack. She said people with mental disabilities who may pose a threat should not be living in group homes in a local community.

"I'm a mental health advocate so I don't know how to take it. I believe in integration into the community," she said. "I think group homes are essential for recovery but if someone is in an acute state than it's not an appropriate setting."

Maria Rodriguez, who lives at 177 Central St., said she is not worried about VinFen being nearby.

"I'm not concerned," she said. "I've been in this place for 33 years and I feel pretty safe."

Bob Austin, who has lived at 26 Adams St. for the past two years said he is a little concerned knowing an attack occurred just a couple blocks from his house. But he said he is not concerned about a group home being near his house.

"It's the first I've heard of anything like [an attack] around here," he said.

On Friday evening, dozens of people gathered at Temple B'Nai Brith to celebrate the Sabbath. Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz said the attack is a reminder about the issue surrounds violence against women and how the community needs to come together and support each other during difficult times.

"We will continue to make sure we all feel safe and we can celebrate together," she said.

Follow Danielle McLean on Twitter @DMcLeanWL or email her at dmclean@wickedlocal.com.

After a brutal sexual assault in the Winter Hill area, residents said they were not overly concerned about safety.

Allen Harmon, 35, was charged with assault to rape and assault to murder, among other charges, after he reportedly attacked a woman in the B'nai Brith parking lot Wednesday evening. Harmon is a resident of the group home at 155 Central Street operated by health care provider Vinfen.

Emily Miller who lives at 108 Central St. said she is a mental health advocate at a nearby school and is having mixed feelings about the attack. She said people with mental disabilities who may pose a threat should not be living in group homes in a local community.

"I'm a mental health advocate so I don't know how to take it. I believe in integration into the community," she said. "I think group homes are essential for recovery but if someone is in an acute state than it's not an appropriate setting."

Maria Rodriguez, who lives at 177 Central St., said she is not worried about VinFen being nearby.

"I'm not concerned," she said. "I've been in this place for 33 years and I feel pretty safe."

Bob Austin, who has lived at 26 Adams St. for the past two years said he is a little concerned knowing an attack occurred just a couple blocks from his house. But he said he is not concerned about a group home being near his house.

"It's the first I've heard of anything like [an attack] around here," he said.

On Friday evening, dozens of people gathered at Temple B'Nai Brith to celebrate the Sabbath. Rabbi Eliana Jacobowitz said the attack is a reminder about the issue surrounds violence against women and how the community needs to come together and support each other during difficult times.

"We will continue to make sure we all feel safe and we can celebrate together," she said.

Follow Danielle McLean on Twitter @DMcLeanWL or email her at dmclean@wickedlocal.com.