A grieving Surrey mom is demanding answers about regulation and oversight of recovery houses, following the overdose death of her son at a Lower Mainland facility.

Maggie Plett said she couldn乌鸦传媒檛 believe the conditions she witnessed when she went to pick up her son Zach乌鸦传媒檚 belongings hours after learning he乌鸦传媒檇 died last December.

乌鸦传媒淚 went over to the house to collect his things. I乌鸦传媒檓 glad I did, but it was brutal,乌鸦传媒� Plett told Peace Arch News.

乌鸦传媒淚 wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 let a dead animal rot in that place. There was mould on his bed sheets. I乌鸦传媒檝e never seen anything like this. The roommate was already wearing a pair of his shoes.乌鸦传媒�

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Plett said 21-year-old Zach was found face-down on his bed at around 4 p.m. on Dec. 15, and, judging by the time of death pinpointed by the coroner 乌鸦传媒� between 9 a.m. and noon 乌鸦传媒� had been dead for hours before anyone noticed.

She wants to know why, in a facility that乌鸦传媒檚 purporting to be helping people recover from addiction, no one thought to check on Zach; where he was, or if he was OK. And if they did, why no one recognized that he needed help.

乌鸦传媒淢y son would乌鸦传媒檝e been better off homeless,乌鸦传媒� Plett said. 乌鸦传媒淎t least he would乌鸦传媒檝e been on the street, somebody would乌鸦传媒檝e found him.乌鸦传媒�

Troubled recovery homes 乌鸦传媒� both regulated and unregulated 乌鸦传媒� are not a new issue in Surrey. Five years ago, city officials shut down more than 100 unregulated operations in a seven-month period, and continued to investigate dozens more.

While the overall situation has reportedly 乌鸦传媒渟ignificantly乌鸦传媒� improved, and efforts of a committee formed two years ago to tackle problem properties continue, staying on top of it remains an ongoing challenge.

乌鸦传媒淚n about the past year 乌鸦传媒� a little over a year 乌鸦传媒� we乌鸦传媒檝e had 87 investigations that were initiated against alleged unregistered recovery or rooming houses,乌鸦传媒� City of Surrey bylaw services manager Kim Marosevich said last week.

Of those, 26 were not deemed to be operating as a recovery or rooming house; and 28 that were found to be violating city rules voluntarily ceased operating at the direction of bylaw officers, Marosevich said.

乌鸦传媒淭hat leaves us with 33 open files, where we are continuing to work with the property owner or agent to figure out how to bring the property into compliance.乌鸦传媒�

The city currently has five open investigations involving licensed recovery homes.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bob Keay, a member of the aforementioned committee, also acknowledged that problems continue.

乌鸦传媒淚 understand that there are some families that have had some tragedy because of these rooming houses,乌鸦传媒� Keay said.

乌鸦传媒淥bviously, we乌鸦传媒檙e always looking to try to find ways to rectify this concern.乌鸦传媒�

Marosevich said the city has 乌鸦传媒渁 fairly well-established relationship乌鸦传媒� with its 55 regulated operators. She acknowledged that conditions described by Plett have been noted by bylaw officers 乌鸦传媒渂oth in places that are operating as alleged recovery homes and places that are simply operating as rooming houses.乌鸦传媒�

Gifted student with a contagious laugh

Zach Plett grew up in Ladner with his two sisters, Callie and Cassie. Callie was two years older; Cassie, two years younger. As a kid, Zach was smart, kind, athletic and popular. He played rep hockey and high-level baseball, and did well in school.

For reasons his mom still doesn乌鸦传媒檛 understand 乌鸦传媒� but said may have been related to mental-health struggles (yet another aspect of Zach乌鸦传媒檚 life where his family feels existing resources failed him) 乌鸦传媒� Zach started getting into drugs at age 15.

乌鸦传媒淗e was really smart, straight-A student, gifted 乌鸦传媒� especially in mathematics,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淚 don乌鸦传媒檛 know what happened.乌鸦传媒�

Tributes in the months after Zach died describe his kindness and patience, his contagious laughter and the closeness he had with his mother.

Callie gave PAN a copy of what she shared with friends and family who attended a service held last January in Zach乌鸦传媒檚 honour. It opens with the attribute she loved most about her brother: his laugh.

It 乌鸦传媒渘ever faltered,乌鸦传媒� no matter how dark things got for him, she wrote.

乌鸦传媒淚t was always a glimpse into who Zach really was.乌鸦传媒�

Callie described Zach as loyal and protective of those he cared about; someone who valued family above all else.

乌鸦传媒淏ut, I乌鸦传媒檓 not going to sugar coat things,乌鸦传媒� she continued.

乌鸦传媒淔or the past seven years or so, Zach struggled every single day. He constantly battled a darkness that many of us couldn乌鸦传媒檛 even imagine, and I think the fact that he survived and accomplished so much in his twenty-one years is an incredible feat.乌鸦传媒�

She described the overdose crisis 乌鸦传媒� which last year killed 1,514 people in B.C., 212 of those in Surrey (including Zach and at least three of his friends) 乌鸦传媒� as 乌鸦传媒渁n epidemic.乌鸦传媒�

BC Coroners乌鸦传媒� Service officials estimate eight deaths have occurred in registered private treatment or unregistered facilities since 2015.

In the first three months of this year, Surrey logged 33 illicit-drug overdose deaths.

According to data compiled through toxicology reports, fentanyl was detected in 85 per cent of the 2018 deaths, up from 82 per cent in 2017.

Zach, too, died from a fentanyl overdose, and it was learning that detail last month that prompted his mom to go public with his story. The coroner told Plett that the amount of the opioid in Zach乌鸦传媒檚 system wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 have killed someone who was using it on a regular basis, as Zach once did.

乌鸦传媒淢y son hadn乌鸦传媒檛 used fentanyl in six months,乌鸦传媒� Plett said.

乌鸦传媒楧on乌鸦传媒檛 worry about it, mom乌鸦传媒�

Zach had only been back in Surrey 乌鸦传媒� a decision Plett said she had not supported due to the prevalence of fentanyl and other opioids in the city 乌鸦传媒� for about a week when he died. Prior to his return, he乌鸦传媒檇 been in Gimli, Man., where he attended what his mom describes as an 乌鸦传媒渁wesome乌鸦传媒� rehabilitation centre, making gains in his battle to get a handle on his addiction.

But after that program 乌鸦传媒� and a brief relapse, followed by another month in the treatment centre 乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒渉e missed home, he wanted to come home,乌鸦传媒� she said.

Due to his addiction and the 乌鸦传媒渞eally rocky road乌鸦传媒� it had put the family on for so many years, Zach knew he couldn乌鸦传媒檛 stay with his mom at her townhome, and the two agreed he would go to a recovery house.

Plett said she got the name and phone number for a facility in Surrey from someone she thought she could trust. He told her to e-transfer $950 to the society, and that Zach would be helped to get on social assistance, which would cover fees for his stay going forward.

Later that evening, Plett said Zach called her to say he乌鸦传媒檇 been taken to a different home 乌鸦传媒� a six-bedroom house in North Surrey, packed with 18 men who shared two bathrooms, only one of which was functioning properly. He also described black mould, Plett said.

There was some structure, at least 乌鸦传媒� residents had a schedule to follow, around chores, breakfast, when to wake up.

Zach asked his mom to bring him a clean blanket and pillow, which she did. That brief visit was the last time Plett saw her son.

The next day, he called to tell her he was being kicked out for 乌鸦传媒渃ausing problems,乌鸦传媒� which Plett learned was due to Zach乌鸦传媒檚 disclosures to her regarding conditions at the house.

乌鸦传媒淭hey told Zach you乌鸦传媒檙e not to talk about this house outside these walls,乌鸦传媒� she said.

Dropped off at another facility, a few blocks west of Queen Elizabeth Secondary, Zach told his mom the conditions were no better, save for the fact he was allowed to keep his phone.

乌鸦传媒淚 said, 乌鸦传媒榃hat乌鸦传媒檚 it like? Any better?乌鸦传媒� He said, 乌鸦传媒業t乌鸦传媒檚 the same. Don乌鸦传媒檛 worry about it, mom.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淗e was dead two days later.乌鸦传媒�

The evening before he died, a Friday, Zach called to tell his mom that he and his roommate were going to a recovery meeting. Plett乌鸦传媒檚 confident he went, as she found signed paperwork amongst his belongings that confirmed his attendance. How long he and the roommate were there, if they went anywhere before returning to the recovery home and exactly what they did before Zach crawled into bed 乌鸦传媒� one woman at the house reported the pair were using until around 5 a.m. Dec. 15 乌鸦传媒� remain among Plett乌鸦传媒檚 unanswered questions.

The dinnertime call was the last time Plett spoke to her son. Around the same time the following day, her phone rang again, only this time, it was a police officer on the other end of the line.

乌鸦传媒淭hey told me they needed to speak to me, so I knew,乌鸦传媒� Plett said, holding Zach乌鸦传媒檚 pillow in her lap.

乌鸦传媒楳y son should never have died there乌鸦传媒�

To this day, Plett doesn乌鸦传媒檛 know who received the $950 she transferred, or what it paid for.

Why no one had checked on Zach and how it is that the recovery house where he died could be operating with the conditions she witnessed and no apparent enforcement, for Plett, is beyond comprehension.

乌鸦传媒淚 want to know why those places are funded by government,乌鸦传媒� she said.

The home where Zach died is on the province乌鸦传媒檚 Assisted Living Registry, which is required of publicly subsidized and private-pay residences that meet the definition of such residences under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. According to the province乌鸦传媒檚 website, the mandate of the registrar is 乌鸦传媒渢o protect the health and safety of assisted living residents.乌鸦传媒�

According to the ALR, there are currently three 乌鸦传媒榮ubstantiated complaints乌鸦传媒� against the site where Zach died.

The two most recent files, updated May 8, cite non-compliance with regard to staff skills and safe site management; residents乌鸦传媒� access to information about the residence, supports and services prior to entering; and psychosocial supports that assist in long-term recovery.

The third file, dating back to November, cites non-compliance in providing a 乌鸦传媒渟afe, secure and sanitary environment乌鸦传媒� for residents; safely prepared and nutritious meals; and more.

Marosevich confirmed the City of Surrey has seven investigations on file against the same house. The last active file was in October of last year, and there are no open investigations at this time, she said.

Marosevich said she couldn乌鸦传媒檛 elaborate on details of the complaints, but emphasized that the city primarily deals with issues surrounding external concerns, such as unsightly property and noise.

乌鸦传媒淗aving a complaint isn乌鸦传媒檛 necessarily validation of an issue, or that there乌鸦传媒檚 been enforcement action taken,乌鸦传媒� she added.

Complaints regarding operations or programming should be directed to the province, she said, however, any made to the city would 乌鸦传媒渃ertainly generate a file乌鸦传媒� that could result in a parallel investigation.

Marosevich said it surprised her to learn of the circumstances surrounding Zach乌鸦传媒檚 death occurring in a recovery home that is both ALR-registered and licensed by the city.

乌鸦传媒淚t does. I乌鸦传媒檓 terribly sorry for him and his family,乌鸦传媒� she said.

As of May 27, the site remained one of the city乌鸦传媒檚 licensed operators, although Marosevich said the list is 乌鸦传媒渄efinitely in flux right now.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭here are several that have licences that the province has currently removed the registration,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淲e are in the process of open investigations for those.乌鸦传媒�

One challenge in cancelling any such licence, she noted, is the people who are using the facility. A transition plan is needed 乌鸦传媒渟o they don乌鸦传媒檛 end up in a worse situation,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 still people who need to find places to live,乌鸦传媒� she said.

Plett乌鸦传媒檚 boyfriend 乌鸦传媒� who asked to not be identified 乌鸦传媒� said it乌鸦传媒檚 unconscionable what Zach and others like him are subjected to, simply for profit.

乌鸦传媒淭hese places that are out there, they乌鸦传媒檙e saying they乌鸦传媒檙e there to help. And they乌鸦传媒檙e not,乌鸦传媒� he said, describing the house where Zach died as 乌鸦传媒渁n unbelievable dump,乌鸦传媒� and the fact that no one had checked on him as 乌鸦传媒渞idiculous.乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淲here乌鸦传媒檚 the check and balance? There seems to be nothing,乌鸦传媒� he said.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a great money-making thing,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 always another addict.乌鸦传媒�

Plett said she plans to take her concerns to her MP, 乌鸦传媒渟ooner than later.乌鸦传媒�

She also continues to wrestle with guilt around her son乌鸦传媒檚 death. May 15 marked the five-month anniversary and 乌鸦传媒渋t feels like yesterday,乌鸦传媒� she said.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 sorry that I made my son go to a place like that. I thought he was exaggerating.

乌鸦传媒淢y son should never have died there.乌鸦传媒�

Clear guidelines exist

In B.C., recovery houses must be registered with the province through the Assisted Living Registry 乌鸦传媒� which has 乌鸦传媒渧ery clear guidelines乌鸦传媒� around health and safety, services to residents and staff conduct 乌鸦传媒� and licensed through their respective municipalities, where jurisdiction revolves around property use.

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The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction provides registered homes with per diem funding of $30.90 per resident.

In 2016, the City of Surrey capped its allowed number of such facilities at 55. The ALR currently shows 50 registered sites in Surrey, a discrepancy Surrey bylaw services manager Kim Marosevich said is explained by the fact the city would require two operations in a duplex, for example, to have separate licences, even if the same operator was running them, while the province would consider the duplex as one operation.

Marosevich described the current incidence of encountering operations that are neither registered nor licensed as 乌鸦传媒渇airly rare.乌鸦传媒�

At the same time, bylaw officers have 乌鸦传媒渁bsolutely乌鸦传媒� seen conditions like those described by Plett.

乌鸦传媒淣ot that long ago, maybe two months ago, we had eight properties in total where, essentially, the property owners had an agent managing the property on their behalf, and the agent put a bunch of people in properties that are slated for demolition,乌鸦传媒� Marosevich said.

乌鸦传媒淲e had乌鸦传媒� situations where the hydro was turned off and people were living in these properties, and the property owners were unaware of what was happening because they had hired an agent.

乌鸦传媒淪o, the agent was taking money from these tenants, essentially, and not paying the bills乌鸦传媒� just collecting the revenues. It ended up taking almost a month to find appropriate housing through social-service connections for 33 people, that were living in squalor.乌鸦传媒�

Marosevich noted that in the described circumstance, seniors comprised the majority of the affected residents.

乌鸦传媒淧eople who are often the most vulnerable people in our communities are the ones that are subject to this victimization.乌鸦传媒�

Ensuring such residents have a safe place to go is a factor in dealing with problem operations, she said.

South Surrey-White Rock MP Gordie Hogg said recovery houses that exist to simply prey on addicts 乌鸦传媒渘eed to be exposed.乌鸦传媒�

Marosevich said it乌鸦传媒檚 challenging to find appropriate housing for people in need of recovery and 乌鸦传媒渟hocking乌鸦传媒� that operators who don乌鸦传媒檛 have their clients乌鸦传媒� best interests at heart are receiving funding that could potentially benefit those providing high-level programming and services.

Hogg and Marosevich both emphasized the importance of reporting sketchy operations.

乌鸦传媒淏usiness inspectors have to be aware, neighbours have to report,乌鸦传媒� Hogg said.

Marosevich also cautioned property owners who enlist agents to manage their properties.

乌鸦传媒淏e aware, be clear, know what is happening on your property,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淏ecause at the end of the day, you are responsible for it, and we will find you.乌鸦传媒�

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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