Independent Living Funding Fact Sheet

The WV Centers for Independent Living are urging the WV Legislature to continue to support basic independent living services that are critical to the lives of the over 400,000 individuals with disabilities in West Virginia. We are requesting the WV Legislature restore the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services' Independent Living Services budget in the amount of $500,000.

Uses of the State Funding during FY 09 - Community Living Services Program:

The purpose of the Community Living Services Program (CLSP) is to ensure that West Virginians with disabilities have access to the resources and supports they need to live self-determined, independent lives in their own homes and communities. Services provided through the CLSP include:

Home Modifications
Assistive Devices and Equipment
Communication Services
Vehicle Modifications
Durable Medical Equipment
And other IL services that enable individuals to live independently

FY 09 Statistics of West Virginians with disabilities and their independent living service needs:

180 individuals served
362 individuals with disabilities across West Virginia are currently on a waiting list with a wait time of at least 2 years.
Nineteen people with disabilities died in FY 2009 waiting for independent living services
Average cost to serve per person in FY 2009: $3,800
Average estimated cost to serve per person in FY 2010: $5,000
$122,900 in leveraged resources (Medicaid, Medicare, Lions Clubs, churches, USDA Rural Housing Development Program, Veteran's Administration, grants, family donations, etc.) in FY 2009 were used to provide independent living services.

While the CSLP is statewide, only 4.25 FTEs are available to provide services leaving most counties underserved.

As of December 31st waiting lists maintained by the Centers totaled 426 people. West Virginia is not eligible for any additional federal funding for independent living and it is critical that the State continue to address this underfunding.

IL services enable West Virginians with disabilities to return to or remain in their own homes and communities and are critical to West Virginia's compliance with the most integrated setting provision set forth in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Olmstead Decision. IL services are also a critical component for the implementation of the West Virginia Olmstead Plan.

Contact

For more information contact Brenda Goodfellow, WVCIL Coordinator at 304-652-2116 or bgoodfellow@mtstcil.org.

Pursuant to the WV Independent Living Act of 2001, funding for independent living services is governed by the State Plan for Independent Living and is monitored by the WV Statewide Independent Living Council.

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