2024 TEXAS DSP WORKFORCE CRISIS REPORT

Over 15,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Texas rely on paid staff in small residential settings – including Home and Community-based Services (HCS) and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) group homes – for their daily needs.

Despite a modest rate increase to $10.60/hour for DSPs on September 1, 2023, staff vacancy rates in HCS homes and ICF facilities rose from 30% in 2021 to 34% in 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

48%

Of HCS homes and 57% of ICF facilities are struggling to meet federal access standards

20%

Of HCS homes and 22% of ICF facilities are reporting an increase in medication errors

30%

Of HCS homes and 43% of ICF facilities are experiencing an increase in behavioral issues

14%

Of HCS homes and ICF facilities are reporting an increase in hospitalizations

94% of HCS providers and 96% of ICF providers
indicated that $10.60/hour is not sufficient to
address the workforce shortage, according to
the most recent survey.

Unless and until the Texas legislature acts, individuals with IDD will to continue to rely on DSPs compensated at the insufficient rate of $10.60 per hour, further exacerbating the workforce crisis which will lead to devastating consequences for Texans with IDD and their families who rely on DSPs.

DSPs in group homes currently work an average of 60 hours per week, with some working 100 hours per week or more, leading to fatigue-related errors and lower tolerance for stressful situations. DSPs at HCS homes work an average of 62 hours per week, while those in ICF facilities work an average of 56 hours per week.

A total of 179 HCS homes and 50 ICF facilities closed between January 2023 and February 2024.

From March 2024 onward, there are an additional 92 HCS homes and 34 ICF facilities anticipated to
close by the end of the year.

THE BOTTOM LINE

While the 88th Texas Legislature responded to challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified DSPs at State Supported Living Centers (SSLCs) by increasing base wages to $17.71/hour, DSPs in community-based settings saw only a minimal increase in their base wage, from $9.53 to $10.60/hour. This significant disparity in starting pay exacerbates the workforce crisis in community-based services.

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TEXAS, THE TIME TO CARE IS NOW

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