End the Waiting List for Community Housing - Adopt the 10% Solution
As individuals with developmental disabilities grow into adulthood, they and
their families face many significant challenges. The most significant concern continues to be housing. Individuals with developmental disabilities, just like
their peers without disabilities, want to live on their own. In addition, their parents are aging and are facing a time when they will no longer be able to
care for their child with a disability. Individuals with developmental disabilities need services and supports in order to live in the community, yet they face an extensive waiting list.
Currently there are 7,903* individuals with developmental disabilities on the
waiting list for residential supports and services. More than half of these individuals, 4,709*, are in the "Priority Category." This means they are living at home with aging parents or have significant
needs and challenges which have made it impossible for their families to continue to support them at home. These families have been waiting for many years for a community placement that is
carefully planned and appropriate for their son or daughter.
The Arc of New Jersey is advocating that the State of New Jersey commit to reducing the Priority
Category waiting list by 10% each year. This commitment of a 10% reduction per year is not only a realistic, attainable goal, but is also a long term solution that will help to build capacity within the
community. We encourage advocates who believe the community residential waiting list's Priority Category is critically long, to contact their local legislators and let them know how important this
issue is and that it must be addressed.
*Data current as of the end of July 2007 per The Department of Human Services
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