06-16-2006, 05:00 AM
Two B.C. foster children seized from squalor
Updated Thu. Jun. 15 2006 2:14 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
An overwhelming stench of urine and feces, a filthy litter box inches from the refrigerator, and rotting food everywhere -- definitely not a place you would want to call home, let alone a foster home.
The landlord of this filthy home opened the doors to CTV to expose the unhygienic conditions in an attempt to garner enough attention to have the two foster children living in the squalor removed.
The landlord calls the incident a "black eye for British Columbia."
"I have been a landlord for 40 years and a realtor for 21, and I have seen everything -- but I have not seen this. It was so shocking, I couldn't absorb it," landlord Ray Headrick to Canada AM Thursday.
After CTV Vancouver aired footage from the foster home's conditions, child welfare officials removed the two children Wednesday night.
Headrick said he first noticed the stench a month and half ago, but figured the B.C. Ministry of Children and Families would take action. He made several visits to Ministry offices, he said, to alert social workers of the situation.
However, the conditions became so horrendous, that maintenance workers were unable to enter the rental unit.
"We needed to replace some windows and I talked my way in, and when my installer was gagging and refusing to put the windows in the house, I just had to do something," Headrick said.
He said it wasn't his first choice to contact the media. But after several visits to the ministry that him got nowhere, Headrick became frustrated with the process and concerned for the children's well-being.
"I just told them and threatened them that I would call the media, and they sort of stonewalled me, so I did," he said.
After the story aired on CTV, child welfare officials released a statement saying "conditions of the foster home are not acceptable, however...this is the first and only complained ever registered by the landlord regarding this residence."
It went on to say that the home was being visited on a regular basis by ministry officials.
When CTV caught up with the foster mother, she said she was unable to cope with the responsibilities any longer and that the conditions were not suitable for children.
"No, it's not I agree with you. That's what I'm saying, I cannot keep up anymore," Gaetane Jarvinen told CTV Vancouver.
Until very recently, Jarvinen had four foster children. Health concerns had her planning to retire sometime this summer.
Child welfare officials said that the two children seized Wednesday night are safe and relatively clean despite the conditions of in the home.
Updated Thu. Jun. 15 2006 2:14 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
An overwhelming stench of urine and feces, a filthy litter box inches from the refrigerator, and rotting food everywhere -- definitely not a place you would want to call home, let alone a foster home.
The landlord of this filthy home opened the doors to CTV to expose the unhygienic conditions in an attempt to garner enough attention to have the two foster children living in the squalor removed.
The landlord calls the incident a "black eye for British Columbia."
"I have been a landlord for 40 years and a realtor for 21, and I have seen everything -- but I have not seen this. It was so shocking, I couldn't absorb it," landlord Ray Headrick to Canada AM Thursday.
After CTV Vancouver aired footage from the foster home's conditions, child welfare officials removed the two children Wednesday night.
Headrick said he first noticed the stench a month and half ago, but figured the B.C. Ministry of Children and Families would take action. He made several visits to Ministry offices, he said, to alert social workers of the situation.
However, the conditions became so horrendous, that maintenance workers were unable to enter the rental unit.
"We needed to replace some windows and I talked my way in, and when my installer was gagging and refusing to put the windows in the house, I just had to do something," Headrick said.
He said it wasn't his first choice to contact the media. But after several visits to the ministry that him got nowhere, Headrick became frustrated with the process and concerned for the children's well-being.
"I just told them and threatened them that I would call the media, and they sort of stonewalled me, so I did," he said.
After the story aired on CTV, child welfare officials released a statement saying "conditions of the foster home are not acceptable, however...this is the first and only complained ever registered by the landlord regarding this residence."
It went on to say that the home was being visited on a regular basis by ministry officials.
When CTV caught up with the foster mother, she said she was unable to cope with the responsibilities any longer and that the conditions were not suitable for children.
"No, it's not I agree with you. That's what I'm saying, I cannot keep up anymore," Gaetane Jarvinen told CTV Vancouver.
Until very recently, Jarvinen had four foster children. Health concerns had her planning to retire sometime this summer.
Child welfare officials said that the two children seized Wednesday night are safe and relatively clean despite the conditions of in the home.