Rooming House & Boarding Home Program

The Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979 was developed out of community concern regarding unsafe conditions in many rooming and boarding houses.The act covers all facilities designated as rooming houses, boarding homes, and residential health care facilities (RHCF). Under this law, BCBSS is responsible for the following activities:

• Visit all facilities at regularly scheduled intervals to assess resident’s needs and determine whether they are receiving needed services and appropriate levels of care.
• Provide information to residents concerning social service, welfare, mental health, home health, and medical assistance available to them.
• Provide information concerning alternative housing arrangements available to residents whose current facility no longer meets their health needs.
• Report any suspected violations of the RHBA and any complaints received concerning services and conditions to the appropriate state agency for remedial action.
• Maintain a separate facility file for all board and care facilities in the county and all residents of these facilities receiving SSBG.
• The CWA is responsible to investigate abuse, neglect, or exploitation of facility residents. The purpose of the investigation is to gather information to evaluate if the resident has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed, if the allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation can be substantiated, what actions must be taken to protect the resident, and if there are other problems that exist and need to be addressed.

To inquire about Bergen County’s licensed rooming houses or boarding homes or to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a resident of these facilities please call 201-368-4222 and ask to speak with the Social Work Supervisor.