The Fort Worth Police Department’s Boarding Home Unit is drawing attention this week to the importance of monitoring boarding homes and ensuring compliance with city ordinances. While many licensed boarding homes provide safe housing for elderly residents and adults with disabilities, officials warn that unregulated or non-compliant facilities can pose dangers to both residents and surrounding neighborhoods.
Boarding homes are defined by city ordinance as residences where three or more individuals over the age of 65 or adults with physical or mental disabilities live together. Improperly managed homes can result in neglect, unsafe living conditions, and heavy strain on emergency services. One recent property cost the City of Fort Worth more than $2.8 million in emergency responses, care, and remediation.
Warning signs of problem boarding homes may include frequent police, fire, or medical calls, residents appearing neglected or disoriented, and overcrowded or unsafe conditions.
“Our goal is to make sure residents aren’t being abused or neglected,” said Senior Code Compliance Officer Brooke Stevenson. “We want to educate the public about the ordinance so we can improve quality of life for those most at risk.”
The compliance process typically includes three visits: an initial visit where property owners are educated and given 30–60 days to comply, a follow-up to check progress, and a third visit where a warrant may be issued if violations continue. This process can take six to eight months, providing time for corrections.
“Many homeowners just don’t realize what’s happening in their rental property,” said Boarding Home Officer Kenneth King. “I don’t go in acting like a cop. I go in as someone who cares.”
When unsafe conditions are found, officials prioritize resident safety and work with agencies such as Adult Protective Services, JPS, MHMR, the Attorney General’s Office, and local fire and police departments. The goal is to protect residents, reunite them with families when possible, and reduce unnecessary emergency calls.
“We want to keep people from being unhoused, reduce unnecessary calls for service, and support the good boarding homes that follow the law,” said Boarding Home Officer Robert McCann.
Homeowners and neighbors with concerns about a potential boarding home are encouraged to contact the Fort Worth Police Department at boardinghomes@fortworthtexas.gov or the call center at 817-392-1234. The compliance application and additional resources are available on the City of Fort Worth’s website at https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/code-compliance/enforcement/boarding-home-facilities
