We reside in a beautiful, affluent state. Nonetheless, we must always keep in mind that not everybody enjoys the identical entry to what our communities have to supply. Whether or not it’s accessing well being care, selecting up groceries, discovering a house or simply having assist getting dressed within the morning, I’m reminded of how our state is falling brief in offering crucial providers for these with mental and developmental disabilities dwelling in their very own houses.
Supported Residing is a long-term service mannequin that gives care to folks with mental and developmental disabilities and helps them of their communities. If we’re to place it on a sustainable path, we should first enhance Medicaid’s funding on this mannequin by at the least 10%. This crucial service is greater than 99% reliant on Medicaid for its funding and our state’s dedication has been inconsistent, at greatest.
I’m additionally hopeful that we will undertake a brand new tax of 1% on the worth of the promoting worth of properties over $3.025 million to assist a devoted funding supply for extra Supported Residing housing. This proposal was already heard by my colleagues within the Home and Senate (HB 2276, SB 6191) and it needs to be part of our closing funds. As a group, it is sensible to undertake a modest tax on the sale of high-value properties to make housing obtainable for these at present with out.
There isn’t any scarcity of worthy providers and group packages throughout our state. There are important shortfalls in funding transportation and our public colleges proceed to require extra assist. In state authorities, we should do multiple factor directly. By investing in Supported Residing, we will probably be working to scale back workers turnover amongst these offering care — at present, this workforce averages greater than 50% turnover yearly as wages reliant on Medicaid fall behind entry-level pay in quick meals eating places. Simply because the waitlist of people awaiting placement statewide has now grown to 450, Supported Residing can be seeing a rise in purchasers with advanced wants requiring extra assets to make sure they obtain constant, compassionate care.
In the event you would not have a beloved one who depends on this care mannequin, Supported Residing could be an invisible service. The options to Supported Residing are hospital settings or growing older state-run establishments, a mannequin that’s greater than twice as costly as Supported Residing. Neither is a long-term answer for a beloved one, whether or not they’re in disaster or not.
Against this, Supported Residing in Washington is an economical mannequin that serves about 4,600 folks and employs 12,000 direct assist professionals — a typical dwelling has three purchasers, often counting on 10 direct assist professionals for care. If we fail to observe analysis and proposals for extra assist in a examine we commissioned, we’re consigning this weak inhabitants to stay in establishments, hospitals or with their growing older mother and father. All these options are as costly as they’re insufficient for long-term care.
One of many best priorities of the Legislature is the work to mitigate the impacts of the housing affordability disaster. Whereas we now have taken some steps over the previous yr, the disaster stays acute and the boundaries to housing are unacceptably excessive. That is simply as true for these with mental and developmental disabilities in Washington as it’s for everybody else. A current grant program within the Housing Belief Fund obtained twice as many functions for extra housing in Supported Residing as anticipated, confirming an unmet want for housing continues.
It’s an honor to serve our state. I hear daily from constituents in regards to the crises affecting our communities and the alternatives to construct a greater place the place we will all thrive. By making a extra constant funding to assist these with mental and developmental disabilities, we’re additionally making a extra constant dedication to the kind of group that everyone knows is feasible.
