A halfway house for women recovering from addiction is low on residents — but not vacant, according to the Department of National Drug Control.A spokeswoman responded to assertions of an anonymous source quoted by broadcasters ZBM news.The source claimed the DNDC was renting a $10,000 a month residence for female clients in transition — but that the building has recently stood empty.In response, the Department said: “The facility has never been empty, but census is low at this particular time, with only two clients.”ZBM’s source also suggested the DNDC had hired an inexperienced relative of a senior official as an addiction specialist.Speaking of Department Director Joanne Dean, the spokeswoman responded: “While it is true that Mrs Dean’s husband now works at the treatment centre in a supportive role, he was subjected to the same processes that anyone applying for the post would have been.“There was no conflict, as Mrs Dean was not involved in the recruitment process at all and does not provide direct supervision at any time.”As for the employee’s experience record, she said: “One of the most important things in building a therapeutic relationship with a client is that the person cares. Building on that foundation has created many effective addiction counsellors in Bermuda and worldwide.”