I am deeply concerned by the ongoing situation at the Hudson Ridge and Danforth Towers, where residents in the Enriched Housing Program operated by Family Services of Rochester were found to be living in conditions so poor that the New York State Department of Health (DOH) ordered the program shut down immediately.
These residents are not typical tenants. They require assisted living-level care and oversight. It is disturbing that such vulnerable individuals were placed at risk—and that it took a routine health and safety survey by DOH to uncover these failures. This crisis should have been identified and addressed much sooner.
Through my conversations with DOH, I have learned that:
- It was only through a routine, annual inspection by DOH that the deficiencies in care were discovered. This raises a huge question – how did no one on the ground in Rochester find and report the problems sooner?
- Did the Rochester Housing Authority notify state or county officials that rent was not being paid for these units? That information could have triggered an earlier intervention.
- DOH has deployed staff to the sites to support residents and ensure continuity of care, either through transfer to another program or by helping them remain in a setting that meets their needs.
- The County may have an oversight role through its contract with Family Services of Rochester. That contract includes the authority to audit and monitor providers. At minimum, the County is required to certify these agencies.
- The role of the county should be clarified by the state. Perhaps current and future contracts need to include stronger oversight provisions and responsibilities on the part of the county.
- The role of the county should be clarified by the state. Perhaps current and future contracts need to include stronger oversight provisions and responsibilities on the part of the county.
This situation reveals a systemic failure. We need answers about how this happened and immediate changes to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We cannot allow failures in communication and accountability to jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of our seniors and disabled residents.