HEALTH, SAFETY VIOLATIONS FORCE CLOSURE OF CHRISTOPHER HOUSE.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer Christopher House - the only residential care facility for people with AIDS-related illnesses in Ventura County - will close its doors today in response to health and safety violations cited by state regulators. The nonprofit corporation nonprofit corporation n. an organization incorporated under state laws and approved by both the state's Secretary of State and its taxing authority as operating for educational, charitable, social, religious, civic or humanitarian purposes. operating the 12-bed Ventura home gave up its license recently and is closing to make necessary repairs and review the scope of its services, said Tricia Davis, a founder of Christopher House. The five adults and two children living at the home most recently have been placed at a similar residential care facility in Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. or with friends and families, Davis said. ``We're going to renovate. Fiscally, we could not take care of some of the violations and take care of the fines. We surrendered our license to them so that the fines could stop,'' Davis said. The California Community Care Licensing agency has cited Christopher House for violations totaling some $15,000 in fines over the past three weeks. Violations cited relate to the physical condition of the century-old home on Thompson Boulevard, plumbing and electrical problems. Christopher House also was cited for medical care deficiencies, such as availability of medication for residents, Davis said. ``We're not closing down. We're shooting to reopen re·o·pen tr. & intr.v. re·o·pened, re·o·pen·ing, re·o·pens 1. To open or be opened again: Officials reopened the airport after the snow was cleared. Schools reopen in September. in two months,'' Davis said. Christopher House, named after a Ventura AIDS activist, opened in the historic 1894 Queen Anne-style home in June 1993. The home offers ample rooms and 24-hour care, helping make life more comfortable for people who want to live independently despite the advance of AIDS-related illnesses. Residents pay rent based on ability and most receive federal housing subsidies. The executive director of the county's leading AIDS advocacy Main article: HIV and AIDS misconceptions Patient Zero theory Some advocates hold that the disease was introduced by a flight attendant named Gaetan Dugas, referred to as "Patient Zero". Other advocates argue that there were cases of AIDS much earlier than initially known. group said closing Christopher House eliminates a critical service. ``We're really disappointed and quite upset that we don't have a licensed residential care facility like Christopher House,'' said Doug Green, of AIDS Care Inc. ``I think it's really critical for them to at least preserve their status as a (nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. ) business,'' he noted. ``I wish them the best.'' Green said there are 586 AIDS cases in the county and 380 residents have died from AIDS-related illnesses, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the most recent Ventura County Public Health Services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract report. Faced with dwindling dwin·dle v. dwin·dled, dwin·dling, dwin·dles v.intr. To become gradually less until little remains. v.tr. To cause to dwindle. See Synonyms at decrease. grants and donations, the Christopher House board is scheduled to meet today to begin planning to keep the residential care program alive. Christopher House officials rely on donations and fund-raising to meet a $250,000 annual budget. The repairs needed to meet state health and safety codes are expected to cost about $50,000. ``We're very low on funds. We considered, two months ago, closing the house,'' Davis said. ``We're just going to go back and see how we can tighten our belts and see what the future holds,'' she explained. ``It will be housing, but we're not sure of who.'' The board holds about four major fund-raisers each year. The next event is the Orange Blossom Special The original Orange Blossom Special was a passenger train operated by the Seaboard Air Line Railway. The train was an all Pullman extra-fare train that carried passengers from New York City to the resorts of the the east coast of Florida. wine train in Fillmore on June 1. |
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