Heard in the Halls

Senate Budget

No Funds to Solve Group Home Crisis

Action Alert

The Senate's Budget contains no solution for the problem of people with mental illness living in group homes that may close due to lack of funds because of the loss of personal care income.  l500 people are in danger due to the failure to deal with this in the Senate Budget.

Debra Dihoff, MA

Executive Director

NAMI North Carolina

The Group Home/Personal Care Services crisis continues!  The NC Senate budget for the fiscal years 2013-2015 was released yesterday. The budget (SB 402)does not contain the expected solution - state dollars to replace the loss of personal care funding.  The temporary solution, using one time $39M allocation expires June 30.  We are running out of time, with l500 people at risk of losing their homes.  Group homes are an important part of the continuum of residential services that need to be available in NC.

Take Action!  Call your Senator(s) (Senate votes today and tomorrow)  with the following talking points:

• 1500 people are at risk of losing their homes effective June 30
• Group homes are an important part of the service array

• Add to the budget $20M in state dollars to replace the loss of personal care revenues that make these homes possible for those with mental illness