What is the importance of Mrs. Stein's house in the novel, Allegedly?

This is the group home where Mary and several other girls live. It is a two-story house with a partially finished basement. The girls are mainly responsible for the housework, including cooking and cleaning. The house is locked down so the girls have to check out if they are leaving. Mary notes that she does not refer to this house as “home” because no one can be at home in a place this dangerous. Mary also mentions the “army of mice and the swarm of roaches” (11) that are constantly in the house.