When Funding Changes, the Need Does Not

Across Washington state, organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are facing an increasingly uncertain funding landscape.

Earlier this year, disability advocates raised concerns about proposed reductions to services funded through Washington's Developmental Disabilities Administration. At one point, proposed budgets included approximately $30 million in reductions to waiver services that help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live and receive support in their communities.

More recently, Washington announced a 10 percent funding reduction to its Parent to Parent program, which provides support and resources to thousands of families raising children with developmental disabilities.

These changes are happening at the same time Washington is preparing for the impact of changes in federal Medicaid funding. While many of the details are still developing, one thing is clear: the need for services is not going away.

For Valley Residential Services, this is an important conversation.

Through our Supported Living program, VRS helps individuals with developmental disabilities live as independently as possible in their own homes and within our community. Support can include assistance with everyday activities, transportation, appointments, meals, personal care, household responsibilities and the many other things that make independent living possible.

These are not simply programs on a state budget. They represent real people and real lives.

Community based services allow individuals with disabilities to have something most of us may take for granted: a home, choices about their daily lives, relationships within their community and the opportunity to live with greater independence and dignity.

Washington continues to identify home and community based care as a priority. In fact, the state has set a goal of keeping at least 91 percent of long term services and supports clients in home and community based settings rather than institutional care.

Making that possible, however, requires people and resources.

Government funding provides an important foundation for the services VRS provides, but it does not always cover every need or every cost. As state and federal budgets become tighter, community support becomes even more important.

That is one reason fundraising efforts such as Dancing with the W2 Stars mean so much to Valley Residential Services. Every sponsorship, donation, ticket purchased and contribution helps provide VRS with resources that can fill gaps and help us continue our mission when government funding falls short.

Budgets will change. Funding formulas will change. Policies will change.

The people we serve will still need safe homes, dedicated staff, opportunities, support and a community that believes they belong.

And VRS will continue to be here for them.