Her son’s body lay in a supportive housing building for 3 days. Years later, she says little has changed

Shawn Richards tragically passed away at the age of 37 in 2017 after ingesting toxic drugs in his room at a supportive housing building where he resided. It took three days for staff to discover his lifeless body, leaving his mother, Cyndie Richards, devastated by the fact that her son was left behind a locked door for such an extended period of time.

The heartbreaking news of Diane Chandler’s similar fate seven years later sent chills down Cyndie’s spine. After Shawn’s passing, a manager at RainCity had promised Cyndie that wellness checks on tenants would be conducted every eight to 12 hours instead of every 24, but this assurance seemed to have been overlooked.

The delay in finding the bodies of Shawn and Diane sheds light on the shortcomings of British Columbia’s supportive housing systems and the risks associated with substance use in facilities designed to assist individuals struggling with mental health and addiction.

Chandler, who battled depression and addiction, tragically passed away on April 20, 2024, at the Foxglove complex in Surrey. Shockingly, it took 11 days for her body to be discovered, despite staff signing off on wellness checks indicating she was alive. Emails between B.C. Housing staff revealed a mix-up where Chandler was mistaken for another tenant, further delaying the discovery of her and the other tenant’s deceased bodies.

Shawn, described as a funny and popular individual who excelled in sports, fell into addiction in his early twenties while grappling with his mental health. He was a resident at Princess Rooms, a RainCity facility in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The coroner’s report indicated that Shawn was last seen alive on April 28, 2017, and likely passed away on April 29.

Following Chandler’s tragic death, B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon announced changes allowing supportive housing operators to enter tenants’ rooms to confirm their health and safety. These changes were implemented in January 2024, four months before Diane’s passing. Kahlon emphasized the importance of supportive housing facilities in saving lives, despite the unacceptable incident involving Chandler.

Cyndie Richards expressed concerns about whether the street might have been a safer environment for her son to use drugs, as there would have been individuals present who could administer life-saving medication like Narcan. The heartbreak of losing her son in a supportive housing facility continues to haunt her, questioning the effectiveness and safety of such environments for individuals battling addiction and mental health issues.

The tragic stories of Shawn Richards and Diane Chandler underscore the urgent need for improvements in supportive housing systems to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The safety and well-being of individuals in vulnerable situations should always be a top priority, ensuring that no family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one due to negligence or shortcomings in the system.