HOUSTON – The Harris County Fire Marshall’s Office and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department are investigating after 16 people were found in an unlicensed assisted living facility in northwest Houston Wednesday afternoon.
HCFMO units responded to reports of an illegal boarding home located at 12610 Cypress North around 4 p.m.
According to authorities, 16 people, three of which were nonambulatory, were found inside the home, which had no permit, and several fire and life safety code violations.
“This is some of the most vulnerable of our population. These are people who cannot take care of themselves and need others, and there was no fire alarm, no sprinklers, no smoke detectors (in the home). They couldn’t have gotten out if there was an emergency,” said Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen.
Officials said the difference between a boarding home and assisted living facility is that you take care of yourself, and there may be someone who comes to prepare meals and help with medical needs, but it’s not necessary. In an assisted living facility, the patients need more medical assistance and nurses.
Due to some of the people in the home being bedridden and in wheelchairs, officials said they needed around-the-clock care, which was not provided at the home nor was the home licensed for that type of care.
HCFMO said two residents were picked up by family members, one was taken by a private ambulance and the rest were transported to hospitals or licensed assisted living facilities or hospitals.