The Galveston County Health District in Texas is responsible for the decision to close the shelter known as The Children’s Center due to what they consider to be poor health conditions. These problems include high lead levels, rat infestation, and fleas.
A youngster who was residing at the facility was diagnosed with lead poisoning, which prompted the Galveston County Health Authority to initiate an inquiry into the establishment, according to Phillip Keiser, who is the director of the department.
Keiser stated that they made repeated trips to the plant and discovered that lead had been brought in on dust on one of those trips. According to what he claimed, it seemed as though the building was not being cleaned. According to the results of the tests, a number of children had dangerously high amounts of lead in their systems.
“It was basically filthy. There was dirt all over the place. There was uneaten food and food debris all over the place. There was evidence of severe rat infestation. There were rat droppings everywhere,” Keiser said.
He mentioned that the department discovered a large number of fleas at the center.
“It was basically filthy. There was dirt all over the place. There was uneaten food and food debris all over the place. There was evidence of severe rat infestation. There were rat droppings everywhere,” Keiser said.
Keiser stated that rat droppings were discovered throughout the entire building, including eating areas and even in the bed of a baby.
“The water heaters were caked with rat droppings,” he stated. “The water heaters were encrusted with rat droppings.”
According to Keiser, one of the buildings had a problem with sewage drainage, and there were problems with the fire safety equipment in the other structures. He went on to describe the many problems by saying things like, “Fire extinguishers that were out of date, fire extinguishers that were missing, smoke detectors that had been taken out and not replaced,” among other things. You can see the Youtube video below down:
The department is collaborating with other local organizations in order to locate suitable accommodations for the center’s clients. A member of the board at The Children’s Center named Hilda Torres stated that the board intends to investigate the facility’s history to determine how it arrived at this point. You can also check the LGBTQ Texans And Allies Protest Queer Targeted Measures At Capitol.
The Children’s Center has reportedly been operating for close to 145 years, as stated on its official website. According to the information provided on their website, their aim is “to change and save the lives of children, youth, and families who are abandoned, abused, neglected, and exploited through rescue, nurture, and empowerment in a quality continuum of caring that facilitates satisfying living opportunities.”
