The Residential Center operates as a half-way house, providing counseling, lodging
and other support to adult male residents with substance abuse problems. Each of
the program participants is required to live in the Residential Center while enrolled in
the treatment program, and is assigned a job at the adjacent Salvation Army Donation
Center. The average stay is approximately one year, although some of the residents had
been provided permanent staff positions and continued to live in the Residential Center
after they completed their treatment.
The population of the Residential Center was fluid and varied from long-term
residents who were familiar with the building layout to new residents who had limited
awareness of stairways, exits and building configuration. The total number of residents
changed often, as resident could enter the program at any time. The length of stay also
varied by individual. At the time of the fire, 98 men were living in the building. All residents
were able bodied individuals - none required nursing care or special assistance in
exiting the building.
There was no accountability system for who was in the Residential Center at any
particular time. A staff member was on duty 24 hours a day and a watchman was on
duty in the office just inside the front entrance of the building (located at the southeast corner of the building). All outside doors were locked at 7 p.m.; access into the building
after this time was through the front entrance, where the watchman would unlock the
door. Residents were allowed to leave and enter the building at any time without checking
in with a staff member. There was no sign-out book, which would have assisted in
providing an indication of the building’s daily census and resident location.
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