Harris County, Texas — On Apr. 27, the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office (HCFMO), along with the Harris County Sherriff’s Office (HCSO), removed 12 residents from a boarding home located in the 4600 Block of Gaston, Houston, TX 77093, due to unsafe living conditions. Harris County revoked the permit for the boarding home, and with the help of other agencies, the residents were relocated to various locations. Of the twelve, five had to be hospitalized, three were transferred to hospice care facilities, and the remaining four were released to family care.
Upon inspection, officials discovered that the boarding home had been approved to house up to seven people but was exceeding its capacity. There were several safety hazards, including open and exposed electrical wiring and bedridden occupants who required a higher level of care than what a boarding home is allowed to provide. To minimize the risk of fire, HCFMO has requested CenterPoint to disconnect power service to the home.
As a part of our mission, fire, and life safety is of utmost importance, and providing appropriate care and support to those in need is our top priority,” said Harris County Fire Complaint Leads Investigators to Unsafe Boarding Home on Gaston, Occupants Relocated Marshal Laurie L. Christensen. “Protecting our most vulnerable populations is a community effort, and we are incredibly thankful for the complaint made by a concerned county resident. We would also like to extend our appreciation to our community partners at Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Service District 1, SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), and Texas Adult Protective Services for their assistance in this matter.
The regulations for boarding homes serve to safeguard the health, safety, and general welfare of residents from potential abuse, neglect, exploitation, and fraud. These homes are locally regulated, and to comply with regulations, they must receive fire and life safety inspections annually to renew permits. The boarding home in question obtained its permit in July 2022. An investigation into its operation is still ongoing.
To learn more about boarding homes and what to look out for, please visit our boarding home webpage. If you encounter any unsafe or unlicensed boarding homes or care facilities, please report them via email to fmosupoort@fmo.hctx.net.